King v AG Australia Holdings Limited (formerly GIO Australia Holdings Limited) [2002] FCA 151

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

King v AG Australia Holdings Limited (formerly GIO Australia Holdings Limited) [2002] FCA 151 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Discovery – discovery and use of documents which may be the subject of a confidentiality agreement – whether an order for discovery should be made where the contentious documents may be used in breach of a duty of confidentiality – where the proceedings relate to an alleged civil wrong – where the proceedings are not brought by a public authority

Sullivan v Sclanders & Goldwell International Pty Ltd (2000) 77 SASR 419 referred to Elliott v Ivey (Supreme Court of New South Wales, 23 April 1998, unreported) referred to A v Hayden (1984) 156 CLR 532 referred to Weld-Blundell v Stephens [1919] 1 KB 520 referred to Initial Services Ltd v Putterill [1968] 1 QB 396 discussed Allied Mills Industries Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1981) 24 ALR 105 referred to Corrs Pavey Whiting & Byrne v Collector of Customs (1987) 14 FCR 434 referred to Deacon v Australian Capital Territory [2001] FCA 1634 discussed Giannarelli v Wraith (1988) 165 CLR 543 referred to The Public Interest Exception to the Breach of Confidence Action: Are the Lights About to Change? J Pizer (1994) 20 MonLR 67 referred to SHANE ROBERT KING v AG AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED (FORMERLY GIO AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LTD) (ACN 054 573 401), GRANT SAMUEL & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD (ACN 050 036 372), DAVID MORTIMER, BRUCE HOGAN, STEWART STEFFEY, RONALD ASHTON, MARINA DARLING, ANDREW KALDOR, LLOYD LANCE, DAVID O'HALLORAN AND IAN POLLARD N 955 OF 1999

MOORE J 25 FEBRUARY 2002

SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY N955 OF 1999

BETWEEN: SHANE ROBERT KING

APPLICANT

AND: AG AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED (formerly GIO AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED)