Duma v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 2) [2021] FCA 1299

Federal Court of Australia

Duma v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 2) [2021] FCA 1299 File numbers: NSD 420 of 2020

Judgment of: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 12 October 2021

Date of publication of reasons: 27 October 2021

Catchwords: EVIDENCE — whether documents tendered by respondent admissible under s 138 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) — where documents obtained by journalists from confidential source whose identity they refused to disclose and were apparently taken without the consent and approval of the owner, whether evidence obtained in consequence of an impropriety or of a contravention of an Australian law — whether the desirability of admitting the documents outweighs the undesirability of admitting evidence obtained in consequence of unlawfulness or an impropriety — alternatively, whether documents should be excluded under s 135 of the Evidence Act — whether probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice

Legislation: Defamation Act 2005 (NSW) s 30 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 55, 135, 138 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 1317AAA, 1317AAB, 1317AAD, 1317AAE, 1317AC, 1317AD, 1317AE, 1317AI International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Opened for signature 16 December 1966. 999 UNTS 171 (entered into force 23 March 1976) Art 17

Cases cited: Adam v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 96 Burstein v Times Newspapers Ltd [2000] EWCA Civ 338; [2001] 1 WLR 579; [2000] All ER (D) 2384 Camm v Linke Nominees Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 1133 Director of Public Prosecutions v Marijancevic (2011) 33 VR 440 Festa v The Queen (2001) 208 CLR 593 Harrington-Smith (on behalf of the Wongatha People) v Western Australia (No 8) [2004] FCA 338; 207 ALR 483 Makim v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Hunt J, 15 June 1990) Nationwide News Pty Limited v Rush [2018] FCAFC 70 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Rush [2018] FCAFC 70 Ordukaya v Hicks [2000] NSWCA 180 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 Parker v Comptroller-General of Customs [2009] HCA 7; 83 ALJR 494; 252 ALR 619; 71 ATR 23 Plato Films Ltd v Speidel [1961] AC 1090 Rush v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] FCA 550; 359 ALR 564 Stephens v Western Australia Newspapers (1994) 182 CLR 211 Warren v Random House Group Ltd [2007] All ER (D) 67; [2008] 2 WLR 1033; [2009] QB 600 (CA) Australian Law Reform Commission, Evidence, Report No 26 (Interim) (1985)