Hooper v Kirella Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1584

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Hooper v Kirella Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1584 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – validity of Federal Court Rules O 15A rr 3, 6 – preliminary discovery – whether a claim for preliminary discovery involves a "matter" within s 77(i) of the Constitution JURISDICTION – whether Parliament has conferred jurisdiction on the Court to make orders for preliminary discovery – whether jurisdiction conferred by Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39B(1A) – whether grant of jurisdiction under s 39B(1A) of the Judiciary Act precluded by Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 86(1) Constitution, ss 71, 75, 76, 77(i) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), ss 39B(1A), 78B Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 5, 19, 23, 24, 31, 32, 59 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 82, 86, 163A Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), s 42 Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997 (Cth) Federal Court Rules, O 15A, rr 1, 3, 6, 9 Malouf v Malouf (1999) 86 FCR 134, followed State Bank of South Australia v Hellaby (1992) 59 SASR 304; (1993) 6 Leg Rep SL2, cited Survival & Industrial Equipment (Newcastle) Pty Ltd v Owners of Vessel "Alley Cat" (1992) 36 FCR 129, cited Levis v McDonald (1997) 75 FCR 36, cited Orr v Diaper (1876) 4 Ch D 92, cited Norwich Pharmacal Co v Customs and Excise Commissioners [1974] AC 133, discussed Heimann v Commonwealth (1935) 54 CLR 126, cited McLean v Burns Philp Trustee Co Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 623, cited British Steel Corporation v Granada Television Ltd [1981] AC 1096, cited X Ltd v Morgan-Grampian (Publishers) Ltd [1991] 1 AC 1, cited Re Pyne [1997] 1 Qd R 326, cited Glaxo Wellcome PLC v Minister of National Revenue (1998) 81 CPR (3d) 372, cited Mercantile Group (Europe) AG v Aiyela [1994] QB 366, cited Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71, cited P v T Ltd [1997] 1 WLR 1309, cited Corrs Pavey Whiting & Byrne v Collector of Customs (Vic) (1987) 14 FCR 434, cited Stewart v Miller [1979] 2 NSWLR 128, cited Exley v Wyong Shire Council, unreported, NSW Supreme Court, Master Allen, 10 December 1976, cited John Fairfax & Sons Ltd v Cojuangco (1988) 165 CLR 346, cited Paxus Services Ltd v People Bank Pty Ltd (1990) 99 ALR 728, cited Ricegrowers Co-operative Ltd v ABC Containerline NV (1996) 138 ALR 480, cited Minister for Health & Aged Care v Harrington Associates Ltd [1999] FCA 549, cited CCA Beverages (Adelaide) Limited v Hansford, unreported, Federal Court of Australia, 15 November 1991, cited Alphapharm Pty Ltd v Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd, unreported, Federal Court of Australia, 24 May 1996, cited Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally (1999) 163 ALR 270, discussed Abebe v Commonwealth (1999) 162 ALR 1, discussed In re Judiciary and Navigation Acts (1921) 29 CLR 257, discussed Philip Morris Inc v Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd (1981) 148 CLR 457, cited Fencott v Muller (1983) 152 CLR 570, cited Stack v Coast Securities (No 9) Pty Ltd (1983) 154 CLR 261, cited Crouch v Commissioner for Railways (Queensland) (1985) 159 CLR 22, cited South Australia v Victoria (1911) 12 CLR 667, cited Croome v Tasmania (1997) 191 CLR 119, cited The Queen v Murphy (1985) 158 CLR 596, discussed Burgundy Royale Investments Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1987) 18 FCR 212, cited Unilan Holdings Pty Ltd v Kerin (1993) 44 FCR 481, cited Thomson Australian Holdings Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1981) 148 CLR 150, discussed Re Colina; Ex parte Torney [1999] HCA 57, cited PCS Operations Pty Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia (1998) 72 ALJR 863, discussed Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust v Minister for Mines and Energy for the Northern Territory (1997) 78 FCR 556, cited Bray, Principles and Practice of Discovery (1885) Story, Commentaries on Equity Jurisprudence (1st English ed, 1884) Mitford, A Treatise on the Pleadings in Suits in the Court of Chancery by English Bill (5th ed, 1847) KENNETH FRANCIS HOOPER & ORS v KIRELLA PTY LTD (ACN 079 721 127) NG 1036 OF 1998 TRANSFIELD PTY LTD (ACN 000 854 688) v AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA A 19 OF 1999 JUDGES: WILCOX, SACKVILLE J & KATZ JJ DATE: 17 NOVEMBER 1999 PLACE: SYDNEY