Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1396

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1396 Citation: Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1396

Parties: CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION v BHP COAL PTY LTD

File number: QUD 204 of 2011

Judge: COLLIER J

Date of judgment: 7 December 2011

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – discovery – rules 20.11, 20.14 and 20.15 Federal Court Rules – whether "fishing" – whether orders sought oppressive – precision in drafting categories of documents INDUSTRIAL LAW – whether documents sought confidential and/or commercially sensitive

Words and phrases: "directly relevant"

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 228(1)(b), 346 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 37M(1) Federal Court Rules rr 20.11, 20.14, 20.15

Cases cited: Alanco Australia Pty Ltd v Higgins (No 2) [2011] FCA 1063 cited Austal Ships Pty Ltd v Incat Australia Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 368 cited Barclay v The Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education (2011) 191 FCR 212 cited Channel Seven Adelaide Pty Ltd v Lane & Hurley [2004] SASC 177 cited Coca-Cola Company v Pepsico Inc [2011] FCA 1069 cited KGL Health Pty Ltd v Mechtler [2008] FCA 273 cited Molnlycke AB v Procter & Gamble Ltd (No 3) [1990] RPC 498 cited Quenchy Crusta Sales Pty Ltd v Logi-Tech Pty Ltd [2002] SASC 374 cited Rehn v Australian Football League and Ors [2003] SASC 159 cited Robson v Reb Engineering Pty Ltd [1997] 2 Qd R 102 cited Southern Equities Corporation Ltd (In Liquidation) v Arthur Andersen & Co (No 5) [2001] SASC 335 cited Re New World Alliance Pty Ltd (rec & mrg apptd); Sycotex Pty Limited v Lutz Clemens Wolfgang Baseler (1993) 47 FCR 90 cited The Shell Petroleum Company Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2005] FCA 982 cited