Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NSW Ports Operations Hold Co Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1232

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NSW Ports Operations Hold Co Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1232 File number: NSD 2289 of 2018

Judgment of: WIGNEY J

Date of judgment: 27 August 2020

Catchwords: PRIVILEGE – interlocutory application challenging claim for legal professional privilege – advice privilege – litigation privilege – without prejudice privilege – communications and documents involving in-house lawyers – affidavits inadequate to sustain claims of privilege – appropriate for court to inspect communications and documents – dominant purpose test – whether documents the subject of legal professional privilege

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) ss 45, 45(1)(b), 45(2)(a)(ii), 155 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 75

Cases cited: Archer Capital 4A Pty Ltd as trustee for Archer Capital Trust 4A v Sage Group plc (No 2) [2013] FCA 1098; 306 ALR 384 Austotel Management Pty Ltd v Jamieson (1995) 57 FCR 411 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australian Lending Centre Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 1057; 283 ALR 299 AWB Limited v Honourable Terence Rhoderic Hudson Cole (No 5) (2006) 155 FCR 30 AWB Ltd v Cole (2006) 152 FCR 382 Bailey v Beagle Management Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 185 Balabel v Air India (1988) Ch 317 Barnes v Commissioner of Taxation [2007] FCAFC 88; 242 ALR 601 Barnetson v Framlington Group Ltd [2007] 1 WLR 2443 Bradford & Bingley plc v Rashid [2006] 1 WLR 2066 Commissioner of Taxation v Pratt Holdings Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 6; 195 ALR 717 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543 District Council of Mallala v Livestock Markets Ltd (2006) 94 SASR 258 Dowling v Ultraceuticals Pty Ltd (2016) 93 NSWLR 155 DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v InterTAN Inc (2003) 135 FCR 151 Ensham Resources Pty Ltd v AIOI Insurance Company Ltd (2012) 209 FCR 1 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Spotless Services Ltd (1996) 186 CLR 404 Field v Commissioner for Railways for New South Wales (1957) 99 CLR 285 Gardner v Irvis (1878) 4 Exch 49 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 Hancock v Rinehart (Privilege) [2016] NSWSC 12 J-Corp Pty Ltd v Australian Builders Labourers Federated Union of Workers (1992) 38 FCR 452 Kennedy v Wallace (2004) 142 FCR 185 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 McKenzie v Cash Converters International Ltd [2017] FCA 1564 Mercantile Mutual Custodians Pty Ltd v Village/Nine Network Restaurants & Bars Pty Ltd [2001] 1 Qd R 276 Mitsubishi Electric Australia Pty Ltd v Victorian Workcover Authority (2002) 4 VR 332 National Crime Authority v S (1991) 29 FCR 203 Pratt Holdings Pty Limited v Commissioner of Taxation (2004) 136 FCR 357 Public Transport Authority of Western Australia v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd (2007) 34 WAR 279 Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of the Ritz Ltd (No 22) (1988) 14 NSWLR 132 Rush and Tompkins Ltd v Greater London Council [1989] 1 AC 1280 Seven Network Limited v News Limited [2005] FCA 142 Southern Equities Corporation Ltd v West Australian Government Holdings Ltd (1993) 10 WAR 1 State of New South Wales v Jackson [2007] NSWCA 279 Sydney Airports Corporation Ltd v Singapore Airlines Ltd [2005] NSWCA 47 Trade Practices Commission v Sterling [1979] FCA 33; 36 FLR 244 Waterford v The Commonwealth (1978) 163 CLR 54 Westgold Resources NL v St Barbara Mines Ltd [2007] WASC 47 Westminster Airways Ltd v Kuwait Oil Co Ltd [1951] KB 134 Woollahra Municipal Council v Westpac Banking Corporation (1994) 33 NSWLR 529 Yokogawa Australia Pty Ltd v Alstrom Power Ltd [2009] SASC 377; 262 ALR 738