Commonwealth of Australia & Anor v Lyon & Ors [2003] FCA 1155

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Commonwealth of Australia & Anor v Lyon & Ors [2003] FCA 1155 PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – jurisdiction – original jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia – whether jurisdiction exists because of Commonwealth "right" to claim public interest immunity – whether the asserted right gives rise to a justiciable controversy – where the Commonwealth seeks declaratory relief – what is comprehended by a "matter" – the effect of par 39B(1A)(c) on the operation of par 39B(1A)(a) of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) – where the Commonwealth can seek to prevent disclosure of documents or information which attract public interest immunity – where information would otherwise be required or revealed or compellable in curial or extra-curial proceedings – circumstances where public interest immunity arises – whether public interest immunity destroyed by disclosure WORDS & PHRASES – "matter" Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), pars 39B(1A)(a) and (c) Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1999 (Cth), s 3 R v Blakeley; ex parte Association of Architects of Australia (1950) 82 CLR 54 referred to Stevensonv Barham (1977) 136 CLR 190 followed Bray v F. Hoffman - La Roche Ltd (2003) 200 ALR 607 referred to Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559 considered Re McBain; Ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2002) 209 CLR 372 considered Abebe v The Commonwealth (1999) 197 CLR 510 considered Commonwealth of Australia v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2000) 98 FCR 31 cited Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 cited Foran v Derrick (1892) 18 VLR 408 referred to O'Flaherty v McBride (1920) 28 CLR 283 referred to Conway v Rimmer [1968] AC 910 referred to Gain v Gain [1962] 1 All ER 63 referred to Young v Quin (1985) 4 FCR 483 referred to Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co Ltd v Commonwealth (No 2) (1913) 16 CLR 178 referred to Alister v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 404 referred to Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police v Poompiriyapinte (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Badgery-Parker J, 28 August 1999) referred to Re Smith (1996) 86 A Crim R 308 considered Attorney-General for the Northern Territory v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475 referred to Zarro v Australian Securities Commission (1992) 36 FCR 40 referred to Cain v Glass (No 2) (1985) 3 NSWLR 230 referred to Nye v State of New South Wales [2002] NSWSC 1266 referred to Atlas v Director of Public Prosecutions (2001) 3 VR 211 referred to XZ v R (2000) 116 A Crim R 308 referred to R v Mason (2000) 74 SASR 105 referred to Egan v Willis (1998) 195 CLR 424 cited Anthony Hordern and Sons Ltd v Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia (1932) 47 CLR 1 referred to R v Wallis; Ex parte Employers Association of Wool Selling Brokers & H V McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd (1949) 78 CLR 529 referred to Fairfield City Council v N & S Olivieri Pty Ltd [2003] NSWCA 41 referred to Phong v Attorney-General of the Commonwealth (2001) 114 FCR 75 referred to Australian National Airlines Commission v The Commonwealth (1975) 132 CLR 582 cited D v National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children [1978] AC 171 cited R v Rankine [1986] 2 All ER 566 referred to R v Johnson [1988] 1 WLR 1377 referred to SB McNicol, Law of Privilege, Law Book Co, Sydney, 1992 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA & COMMISSIONER OF THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE v PAUL LYON & FRANK PATRICK BARBARO & ARTHUR JOSEPH LOVEDAY & JOSEPH ALEXANDER CASSAR & FRANK VELARDI & PETER PANGELLO & ROBERT IBRAHIM & AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION & SEVEN NETWORK PTY LTD & NINE NETWORK PTY LTD & JOHN FAIRFAX PUBLICATIONS PTY LTD & NEWS LIMITED N 1447 of 2003 MOORE J SYDNEY 22 OCTOBER 2003