BT (Australasia) Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales & Anor (No 8) [1998] FCA 295

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

EVIDENCE - client legal privilege - loss of privilege - whether substance of confidential communication was disclosed - whether holder of privilege impliedly consented to disclosure of confidential communication - whether disclosure of confidential communication was inadvertent. Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 121, 122, 126 Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins, 2 March 1998, unreported (FCA/FC), followed. Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 12 (S Ct NSW/Rolfe J), cited. Attorney-General of the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475, cited. Derby & Co Ltd v Weldon [1991] 1 WLR 73 (CA), cited. Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83, cited. Guinness Peat Properties Ltd v Fitzroy Robinson Partnership [1987] 1 WLR 1027 (CA), cited. Hooker Corporation Ltd v Darling Harbour Authority (1987) 9 NSWLR 538, cited. Springfield Nominees Pty Ltd v Bridgeland Securities Ltd (1992) 38 FCR 217 (FCA/FC), cited. Woollahra Municipal Council v Westpac Banking Corporation (1992) 33 NSWLR 529, cited.

BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD v STATE OF new south wales and telstra corporation limited

ng 572 of 1997

Judgment no 8

sackville j

sydney

1 april 1998

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NG 572 of 1995

BETWEEN: BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LTD APPLICANT AND STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES FIRST RESPONDENT TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED SECOND RESPONDENT BETWEEN: STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND: CROSS CLAIMANT TO FIRST CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LIMITED FIRST CROSS RESPONDENT TO FIRST CROSS CLAIM BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC SECOND CROSS RESPONDENT TO FIRST CROSS CLAIM BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LIMITED CROSS CLAIMANT TO SECOND CROSS CLAIM AND: TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED CROSS RESPONDENT TO SECOND CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC CROSS CLAIMANT TO THIRD CROSS CLAIM AND: TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED CROSS RESPONDENT TO THIRD CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC CROSS CLAIMANT TO FOURTH CROSS CLAIM AND: STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES CROSS RESPONDENT TO FOURTH CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES CROSS CLAIMANT TO FIFTH CROSS CLAIM AND: TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED CROSS RESPONDENT TO FIFTH CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED CROSS CLAIMANT TO SIXTH CROSS CLAIM AND: BT AUSTRALASIA PTY LIMITED CROSS RESPONDENT TO SIXTH CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED CROSS CLAIMANT TO SEVENTH CROSS CLAIM AND: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLC CROSS RESPONDENT TO SEVENTH CROSS CLAIM BETWEEN: TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED CROSS CLAIMANT TO EIGHTH CROSS CLAIM AND: STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES CROSS RESPONDENT TO EIGHTH CROSS CLAIM JUDGE: SACKVILLE J PLACE: SYDNEY DATE: 1 APRIL, 1998