Southern Cross Airlines Holdings Ltd (in liq) v Arthur Andersen & Co & Ors [1998] FCA 963

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA EVIDENCE - legal professional privilege - whether transcripts of examinations conducted pursuant to orders under s 596A Corporations Law are protected by privilege - whether a reference to legal advice in liquidator's report to creditors constitutes waiver by liquidator of privilege. Corporations Law - ss 596, 597 Australian Securities Commission Act 1989 (Cth) - s 50 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) - s 122 Trade Practices Commission v Ampol Petroleum (Victoria) Pty Ltd (1994) 54 FCR 316, applied Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins (1998) 152 ALR 418, followed Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 12, discussed Ampolex Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1996) 70 ALJR 603, applied Somerville v Australian Securities Commission (1995) 60 FCR 319, followed Australian Securities Commission v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (1996) 70 FCR 93, followed Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (in liq) v Webb (1996) 39 NSWLR 601, followed Commissioner, Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501, followed SOUTHERN CROSS AIRLINES HOLDINGS LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION) v ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO (A FIRM) & ORS QG 170 OF 1996 DRUMMOND J 28 JULY 1998 BRISBANE

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY QG 170 of 1996

BETWEEN: SOUTHERN CROSS AIRLINES HOLDINGS LIMITED (in liquidation) ACN 006 892 387

Applicant

AND: ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO (A FIRM)

First Respondent

SIR LEO HIELSCHER

Second Respondent

BRIAN HARVEY BADEN POWELL

Third Respondent

LEONARD THOMAS GEORGE HEARD

Fourth Respondent

DAME MARGARET GEORGINA CONSTANCE GUILFOYLE

Fifth Respondent

LEIGH MASEL

Sixth Respondent

DAVID SAMUEL COATS