Bank of Valletta PLC v National Crime Authority [1999] FCA 791

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Bank of Valletta PLC v National Crime Authority [1999] FCA 791 PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS – statutory notice requiring disclosure of documents by foreign bank – whether compliance with notice would breach foreign secrecy laws – interpretation of foreign laws – expert evidence on foreign laws – extraterritorial operation of foreign laws – whether "reasonable excuse" for not complying with statutory notice – relevance of alternative method of obtaining access to documents – appropriate declaratory relief WORDS AND PHRASES – "reasonable excuse" – "disclose" – "judicial or prosecuting authority" Burgundy Royale Investments Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1987) 18 FCR 212 referred to Yin v Public Prosecutor [ 1955] AC 93 referred to Poole v Wah Min Chan (1947) 75 CLR 218 referred to Controlled Consultants Pty Ltd v Commissioner for Corporate Affairs (1985) 156 CLR 385 considered Brannigan v Davison [1997] AC 238 applied Societé Internationale v Rogers (1958) 357 US 197 considered Corporate Affairs Commission of New South Wales v Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319 considered Taikato v R (1996) 186 CLR 454 referred to Ganin v NSW Crime Commission (1993) 32 NSWLR 423 considered Pascoe v The Nominal Defendant (Queensland) (No 2) (1964) Qd R 373 referred to Australian Securities Commission v Ampolex Ltd (1995) 38 NSWLR 504 referred to Australian Securities Commission v Bank Leumi Le-Israel (Switzerland) & Others (1996) 69 FCR 531 cited Australian Securities Commission v Bank Leumi Le-Israel (Switzerland) & Others (1995) 134 ALR 101 cited In the matter of Two Grand Jury Subpoenas Duces Tecum Served Upon Union Bank of Switzerland (1993) 601 NYS 2d 253 referred to In re Grand Jury Proceedings; United States v Field (1976) 532 F 2d 404 referred to In re Grand Jury Proceedings; United States v The Bank of Nova Scotia (1982) 691 F 2d 1384 referred to In re Spencer and The Queen (1983) 145 DLR (3d) 344 referred to MacKinnon v Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation (1986) 1 Ch 482 considered FDC Co Ltd v The Chase Manhattan Bank NA (1990) 1 HKLR 277 considered Adsteam Building Industries Pty Ltd v The Queensland Cement and Lime Company Ltd (No 4) (1985) 1 Qd R 127 considered Medina v Copenhagen Handelsbank International SA (unreported, Spender J, 10 March 1989) cited Williams v Usher (1955) 94 CLR 450 referred to R v Treacy [1971] AC 537 considered R v Markus [1976] AC 35 considered Foster v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1951) 82 CLR 606 referred to Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Westgarth (1950) 81 CLR 396 referred to Thompson v Riley McKay Pty Ltd (No 2) (1980) 42 FLR 279 referred to Diamond v Bank of London and Montreal Ltd [1979] 1 QB 333 cited Paper Products Pty Ltd v Tomlinsons (Rochdale) Ltd (1993) 44 FCR 485 cited Voth v Manildra Flour Mills Pty Ltd (1990) 171 CLR 538 considered Sydbank Soenderjylland A/S v Bannerton Holdings Pty Ltd (1996) 68 FCR 539 referred to Austin v The Queen (1989) 166 CLR 669 referred to Frischke v Royal Bank of Canada (1977) 17 OR (2d) 388 cited George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104 referred to National Crime Authority v A1 (1997) 75 FCR 274 cited