Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v George Weston Foods Limited & Anor [2003] FCA 601

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v George Weston Foods Limited & Anor [2003] FCA 601

LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE - inquiry into Part IV contraventions by present litigant – common law and statutory privilege claimed by present litigant – denied in parallel circumstances to other litigant by Full Federal Court – other litigant in Federal Court proceedings subsequently obtained special leave to appeal to High Court – claim to privilege maintained by present litigant pending outcome of High Court proceedings pursued by other litigant – special leave to appeal to High Court granted to other litigant – no injunction sought by present litigant to restrain inquiry pending outcome of High Court appeal by other litigant – High Court appeal by other litigant upheld – documents produced under compulsion – no waiver of privilege – production not voluntary.

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 155 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 117, 118, 122 Federal Court RulesOrder, 19 Rule 1 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd and Another (2001) 108 FCR 123 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd & Anor v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 192 ALR 561 Woolworths Limited v Fels; Coles Myer Limited v Fels [2002] HCA 50 Woollahra Municipal Council v Westpac Banking Corporation (1994) 33 NSWLR 529 Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83 AG Australia Holdings Ltd v Burton [2002] NSWSC 170 Lord Ashburton v Pape [1913] 2 Ch 469 Thomason v The Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 347 Kabwand Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank (1987) 16 FCR 85 Yuill v Corporate Affairs Commission (1990) 20 NSWLR 386 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 A M & S Europe Ltd v Commission of European Communities [1983] QB 878 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Mann v Carnell [1999] 201 CLR 1 Telstra Corporation v Australis Media Holdings (No 1) (1997) 41 NSWLR 346 Ampolex Pty Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co (Canberra) Ltd (1996) 40 NSWLR 12 Sovereign v Bevillesta [2000] NSWSC 521 The Adelaide Steamship Pty Ltd v Spalvins (1998) 81 FCR 360 Great Atlantic Insurance Co v Home Insurance Co [1981] 2 All ER 485 Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475 ERS Engines Pty Ltd v Wilson (1994) 35 NSWLR 193 Phillips v Walsh (1990) 20 NSWLR 206 Scott v Handley (1999-2000) 58 ALD 373 AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v GEORGE WESTON FOODS LIMITED AND PAUL BENEDICT LONERAGAN N 1295 OF 2002 CONTI J 18 JUNE 2003 SYDNEY