Lusty (Examiner) v DER22 [2023] FCA 255

Federal Court of Australia

Lusty (Examiner) v DER22 [2023] FCA 255 File number: NSD 812 of 2022

Judgment of: WIGNEY J

Date of judgment: 2 February 2023

Date of publication of reasons: 23 March 2023

Catchwords: CONTEMPT OF COURT – refusal to answer questions in Australian Crime Commission examination under s 34A(a)(ii) of Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) – Court's power to deal with contempt under s 34B of Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) – consideration of principles relevant to fixing sentences for contempt – where contempt subsequently purged – consideration of respondent's circumstances, including partial cooperation and personal circumstances – sentence of four months' imprisonment – sentence suspended

Legislation: Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) ss 4(1), 7, 7A(c), 24A(1), 28, 28(1)(a), 28(4), 30, 34A(a)(ii), 34B(1), 34B(1)(a), 34B(1)(b), 34B(5) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 31 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 24

Cases cited: Anderson v BYF19 [2019] FCA 1959 Anderson v XLVII [2015] FCA 19 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v INFO4PC.com Pty Ltd (2002) 121 FCR 24; [2002] FCA 949 DTO21 v Australian Crime Commission [2022] FCAFC 190 Hannaford v HH (2010) 205 A Crim R 366; [2010] FCA 1214 Hannaford v HH (No 2) [2012] FCA 560 Hughes v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2004) 247 FCR 277; [2004] FCAFC 319 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam (No 2) (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 Sage v CFS22 [2022] FCA 1023 Von Doussa v Owens (No 3) (1982) 31 SASR 116 Wood v Galea (1995) 79 A Crim R 567