Kitchen v Director of Professional Services Review under s 83 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (No 3) [2020] FCA 634

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Kitchen v Director of Professional Services Review under s 83 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (No 3) [2020] FCA 634 File number: QUD 699 of 2019

Judge: COLLIER J

Date of judgment: 20 May 2020

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – subpoena – non-party resisting production of documents in certain categories – computer programs – means or methodology of sampling under s 106K Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) – whether documents in subpoena identified with reasonable particularity – reading subpoena sensibly and with reference to circumstances known – whether specific articulation of types of documents sought required – whether documents adjectivally relevant to issues in substantive proceeding – whether fishing exercise – where precise description of documents only within knowledge of subpoena recipient – whether documents sought in correspondence between applicant and subpoena recipient broader than subpoena – whether subpoena oppressive –effect of COVID-19 pandemic on reasonable time for response by subpoena recipient

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Sch Pt 1, Sch Pt 2 cl 8 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 43(2) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) r 24.15, Sch 1 Health Insurance (Professional Services Review – Sampling Methodology) Determination 2017 Pt 2 s 8(1) Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) ss 83, 88A, 106K

Cases cited: Adelaide Steamship Company v Spalvins (1997) 24 ACSR 536 Bailey v Beagle Management Pty Ltd (2001) 105 FCR 136; [2001] FCA 60 Dowling v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCAFC 28 Hamilton v Oades (1986) 166 CLR 486; [1989] HCA 21 Kitchen v Director of Professional Services Review under s 83 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (No 2) [2019] FCA 2022 Lucas Industries Ltd v Hewitt (1978) 18 ALR 555 McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd (2005) 221 ALR 785; [2005] FCA 1233 Oceanic Special Shipping Co Inc v Fay (1988) 165 CLR 197; [1988] HCA 32 R v Robertson; Ex parte McAuley (1983) 71 FLR 429 American Express Warehousing Ltd v Doe [1967] 1 Lloyd's Rep 222 Re Westinghouse Electric Corporation [1977] 3 WLR 430 Re Westinghouse Electric Corporation [1978] 2 WLR 81 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd (No 5) (2005) 216 ALR 147; [2005] FCA 510 Smorgon v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1976) 134 CLR 475; [1976] HCA 53 Spencer Motors Pty Ltd v LNC Industries Ltd [1982] 2 NSWLR 921 Tamawood Ltd v Habitare Developments Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 364 The Commissioner for Railways v Small (1938) 38 SR (NSW) 564 Walker v Newmont Australia Ltd [2010] FCA 298 Wong v Sklavos (2014) 319 ALR 378; [2014] FCAFC 120