Chapman v Luminis Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] FCA 1010

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Chapman v Luminis Pty Ltd [No 2] [2000] FCA 1010 Evidence – public interest immunity – exclusion of matters of State – public interest in protecting confidential and restricted Aboriginal knowledge – public interest in not denying access to relevant evidence in the administration of justice – Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 130 Constitutional Law – inconsistency – whether State law prohibiting the divulging of Aboriginal tradition in contravention of Aboriginal tradition inconsistent with the Commonwealth Evidence Act – Commonwealth Constitution s 109 Constitutional Law – whether laws of the Commonwealth otherwise provided – s 35 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1983 (SA) and Commonwealth Evidence Act – Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 79 Constitution of Australia, ss 76(ii), 77, 109 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth), ss 3, 9, 10, 28 Aboriginal Heritage Act 1983 (SA), ss 3, 35 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), ss 39B, 78B, 79 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 4, 8(1), 12, 48(4), 56(1), 130, 135, 142 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 75B, 82, 86 Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Hindmarsh Island Bridge Act 1997 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 17(4), 19(1), 50 Tickner v Bropho (1993) 40 FCR 183 referred to Tickner & Others v Chapman & Others (1995) 57 FCR 451 referred to Chapman & Others v Tickner & Others (1995) 55 FCR 31 referred to Wilson & Others v Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs & Another (1996) 189 CLR 1 referred to Kartinyeri and Another v The Commonwealth of Australia (1998) 195 CLR 337 referred to Maks v Maks (1986) 6 NSWLR 34 distinguished Mack v Lenton (1993) 32 NSWLR 259 distinguished Northern Territory of Australia v GPAO (1999) 161 ALR 318 discussed ALRM v State of South Australia and Stevens (No 3) (1995) 183 LSJS 111 referred to Aboriginal Sacred Sites Protection Authority v Maurice; Re the Warumungu Land Claim (1986) 10 FCR 104 discussed Eastman v The Queen (1997) 76 FCR 9 at 63 referred to Young v Quin (1985) 4 FCR 483 referred to Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 cited Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Western Australia & Others (1996) 67 FCR 40 referred to Western Australia v Ward and Others (1997) 76 FCR 492 referred to Victoria v The Commonwealth of Australia (1937) 58 CLR 618 referred to P v P (1994) 120 ALR 545 discussed G Bellamy and P Meibusch, Commonwealth Evidence Law, 2nd ed. at 21 The Laws of Australia, The Law Book Company at 16.7 Matter No. SG 33 of 1997 THOMAS LINCOLN CHAPMAN & WENDY JENNIFER CHAPMAN & BINALONG PTY LTD v LUMINIS PTY LTD, DEANE JOANNE FERGIE, CHERYL ANNE SAUNDERS, ROBERT EDWARD TICKNER & COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA von DOUSSA J ADELAIDE 28 JULY 2000