Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited (No. 3) [2002] FCA 609

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v

ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited (No. 3)

[2002] FCA 609

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – court file – non-party seeking access – leave granted – principle to be applied – open justice

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 45, 45A, 83 Federal Court Rules O 46 r 6

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ABB Transmission and Distribution Ltd (No. 2) [2002] FCA 559 referred to Brown v Cumming (1829) 10 B & C 70; 109 ER 377 referred to GIO Personal Investment Services Ltd v Liverpool and London Steampship Protection and Indemnity Association Ltd [1999] 1 WLR 984 applied Harmon v Secretary of State for the Home Department [1983] AC 280 referred to Herald and Weekly Times Ltd v The Magistrates' Court of Victoria (2000) 2 VR 346 applied McPherson v McPherson [1936] AC 177 referred to R v Wakefield [1975] 1 WLR 711 applied Russell v Russell (1976) 134 CLR 495 discussed Scott v Scott [1913] AC 417 applied AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v ABB TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LIMITED and ORS V 553 of 1999 AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMSSION v ABB TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LIMITED and ORS V 868 of 2000 FINKELSTEIN J MELBOURNE 13 MAY 2002

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY V 553 of 1999

BETWEEN: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Applicant

AND: ABB TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LIMITED, ALSTOM AUSTRALIA LTD, WILSON TRANSFORMER COMPANY PTY LTD, DAVID TOOGOOD, CHRIS TAPE,

PAUL GRABHAM, R G ELLIOT, COLIN JAMES, ROBERT WILSON, DAVID PECK, DOUGLAS PITT

and ABB POWER TRANSMISSION PTY LTD (in liquidation)

Respondents

JUDGE: FINKELSTEIN J

DATE OF ORDER: 22 MAY 2002