Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Noumi Ltd [2024] FCA 349

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Noumi Ltd [2024] FCA 349 File number: NSD 163 of 2023

Judgment of: SHARIFF J

Date of judgment: 11 April 2024

Catchwords: EVIDENCE – informal discovery – claim of legal professional privilege over investigation report and communications protocol – whether privilege attaches to these communications – requirements of legal professional privilege – held that privilege attaches to the relevant communications EVIDENCE – informal discovery – waiver – whether privilege attaching to the investigation report was waived by its disclosure to regulator – whether privilege attaching to the investigation report was waived by references in ASX announcements – considerations as to implied or imputed waiver – whether the privilege holder's conduct was inconsistent with the maintenance of confidentiality in the privileged communication – held that privilege was waived by disclosure to regulator but not waived by reason of the ASX announcements PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether non-publication and suppression orders should be made – whether orders necessary to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice – orders made

Legislation: Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) ss 19, 68 and 76 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 180(1), 344, 674(2), 674(2A), 1309(2) and 1309(12) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 37AF, 37AJ(2)

Cases cited: Archer Capital 4A Pty Ltd as trustee for the Archer Capital Trust 4A v Sage Group plc (No 2) [2013] FCA 1098 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Parish (1980) 29 ALR 228 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v NSW Ports Operations Hold Co Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1232 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (No 2) [2020] FCA 1013 AWB Ltd v Cole (No 5) [2006] FCA 1234; (2006) 155 FCR 30 AWB Ltd v Cole [2006] FCA 571; (2006) 152 FCR 382 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52 Barnes v Commissioner of Taxation [2007] FCAFC 88 Benecke v National Australia Bank (1993) 35 NSWLR 110 BHP Petroleum (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sagasco South East Linc [2001] WASCA 159 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Amcor Limited [2008] FCA 88 Cantor v Audi Australia Pty Limited (No 4) [2019] FCA 1633 Cantor v Audi Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 1391 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Financial Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Pratt Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1247 Commissioner of Taxation v PricewaterhouseCoopers [2022] FCA 278 Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions v Citigroup Global Markets Australia Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 511 Craine v Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Co Ltd (1920) 28 CLR 305 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2002] HCA 49; (2002) 213 CLR 543 DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v InterTAN Inc [2003] FCA 1191; (2003) 135 FCR 151 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Expense Reduction Analysts Group Pty Ltd v Armstrong Strategic Management and Marketing Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 46; (2013) 250 CLR 303 Goldberg v Ng (1995) 185 CLR 83 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 Halford v Price (1960) 105 CLR 23 Hanks v Admiralty Resources NL (No 2) [2011] FCA 1464 Kenquist Nominees Pty Ltd v Campbell (No 5) [2018] FCA 853 Kirby v Centro Properties Limited (No 2) [2012] FCA 70; (2008) 172 FCR 376 Komlotex Pty Ltd v AMP Ltd [2022] NSWSC 1525 LHRC v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (No 4) [2015] FCA 70 Mann v Carnell [1999] HCA 66; (1999) 201 CLR 1 Marshall v Prescott [2015] NSWCA 110 Martin v Norton Rose Fulbright Australia [2019] FCAFC 234 Mitsubishi Electric Pty Ltd v Victorian Workcover Authority (2002) 4 VR 332 New South Wales v Betfair Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 160; (2009) 180 FCR 543 Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 Nine Films & Television Pty Ltd v Ninox Television Limited [2005] FCA 356 Osland v Secretary, Department of Justice [2008] HCA 37; (2008) 234 CLR 275 Perpetual Custodians Ltd v IOOF Management Ltd [2013] NSWCA 231; 304 ALR 436 Pratt Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2004] FCAFC 122; (2004) 136 FCR 357 Re Northern Energy Corporation Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1073 Secretary, Department of Justice v Osland [2007] VSCA 96 Singapore Airlines v Sydney Airports Corporation [2004] NSWSC 380 Spotless Group Ltd v Premier Building & Consulting Pty Ltd (2006) 16 VR 1 Switchcorp Pty Ltd v Multiemedia Ltd [2005] VSC 425 Sydney Airports Corporation Ltd v Singapore Airlines Ltd [2005] NSWCA 47 TerraCom Ltd v ASIC [2022] FCA 208; (2022) 501 ALR 143 TerraCom Ltd v ASIC [2022] FCAFC 151 The Council of the Municipality of Woollahra v Westpac Banking Corporation (1994) 33 NSWLR 529 Thomason v Campbelltown Municipal Council (1939) 39 SR(NSW) 347 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 UIL (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Wollongong Coal Limited [2023] FCA 1578 X7 v Australian Crime Commission [2013] HCA 29; (2013) 248 CLR 92