Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 29) [2022] FCA 218

Federal Court of Australia

Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 29) [2022] FCA 218 File numbers: NSD 1485 of 2018 NSD 1486 of 2018 NSD 1487 of 2018

Judgment of: ABRAHAM J

Date of judgment: 11 March 2022

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for orders requiring the production of certain documents and for leave to inspect, uplift and copy those documents – legal professional privilege – waiver – issue waiver – whether the conduct of the respondents is inconsistent with the maintenance of privilege – privilege not waived over any associated material – application dismissed

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 128, 133

Cases cited: Attorney-General (NT) v Kearney [1985] HCA 60; (1985) 158 CLR 500 Attorney-General (NT) v Maurice [1986] HCA 80; (1986) 161 CLR 475 AWB Ltd v Cole (No 5) [2006] FCA 1234; (2006) 155 FCR 30 Commissioner of Taxation v Rio Tinto Ltd [2006] FCAFC 86; (2006) 151 FCR 341 Gartner v Carter [2004] FCA 258 Grant v Downs [1976] HCA 63; (1976) 135 CLR 674 Legal Services Commission v JHW [2012] SASCFC 47; (2012) 223 A Crim R 534 Mann v Carnell [1999] HCA 66; (1999) 201 CLR 1 New South Wales v Betfair Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 160; (2009) 180 FCR 543 Osland v Secretary, Department of Justice [2008] HCA 37; (2008) 234 CLR 275 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 23) [2021] FCA 1460 Roberts-Smith v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited (No 25) [2021] FCA 1558 Southern Equities Corporation Ltd (In liq) v Arthur Anderson & Co (1997) 70 SASR 166 TerraCom Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2022] FCA 208 Verde Terra Pty Ltd v Central Coast Council (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 10