Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 24) [2021] FCA 1461

Federal Court of Australia

Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 24) [2021] FCA 1461 File numbers: NSD 1485 of 2018 NSD 1486 of 2018 NSD 1487 of 2018

Judgment of: ABRAHAM J

Date of judgment: 23 November 2021

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – claim by the Inspector-General of Australian Defence Force (IGADF) of public interest immunity over documents, if they exist, which relate to witnesses that are to be called by the respondents –– balancing competing public interest considerations –– claim of public interest immunity established by IGADF

Legislation: Defence Act 1903 (Cth) Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Regulation 2016 (Cth) National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (Cth)

Cases cited: Alister v The Queen [1984] HCA 85; (1984) 154 CLR 404 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v P Dawson Nominees Pty Ltd [2008] FCAFC 123; (2008) 169 FCR 227 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Prysmian Cavi E Sistemi Energia S.R.L. [2011] FCA 938; (2011) 283 ALR 137 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Amcor Limited [2008] FCA 88 Haydon v Magistrates Court (SA) [2001] SASC 65; (2001) 87 SASR 448 R v Meissner (1994) 76 A Crim R 81 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 6) [2020] FCA 1285 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 8) [2020] FCA 1630 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 12) [2021] FCA 465 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd (No 13) [2021] FCA 549 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 14) [2021] FCA 552 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 15) [2021] FCA 582 Spargos Mining NL v Standard Chartered Australia Ltd (No 1) (1989) 1 ACSR 311