Commissioner of Police v Walker [2023] NSWSC 539

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner of Police v Walker [2023] NSWSC 539 Hearing dates: 27 April 2023 Date of orders: 24 May 2023 Decision date: 24 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: McNaughton J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: (1) An order in the nature of certiorari quashing the Refusal Decision. (2) An order in the nature of mandamus remitting the matter to the Local Court of New South Wales to deal with the plaintiff's application for a Restricted Retention Order according to law. Catchwords: APPEAL – appeal from Local Court – whether Local Court has the implied power to make an order restricting an accused's ability to retain a brief of evidence – consideration of jurisdictional error – safety of witnesses – Local Court has implied power to make a Restricted Retention Order STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether confidential information in a brief of evidence can give rise to an "obligation" pursuant to section 61(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) – whether "obligation" includes the equitable obligation of confidence – section 61 not in mandatory terms which can only be departed from if specified in Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Pt 3, Div 1A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Ch 6, Pts 2, 2A, 2B, ss 3, 55, 56, 61, 64, 72, 91 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW) s 15A Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 33, 34 Justice Legislation Amendment (Committals and Guilty Pleas) Act 2017 (NSW) Local Courts Act 1982 (NSW) s 26 Local Court Act 2007 (NSW) ss 9, 28 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) ss 23, 69 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Pt 51B, rr 5, 9 Cases Cited: ASIC v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd (2001) 204 CLR 559; [2001] HCA 1 The Attorney-General v Walker (1849) 3 Exch 242; (1849)154 ER 833 Attorney-General for the United Kingdom v Heinemann Publishers Australia Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 86 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (2006) 226 CLR 256; [2006] HCA 27 BUSB v The Queen (2011) 80 NSWLR 170; [2011] NSWCCA 39 Commissioner of Police New South Wales v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2008) 70 NSWLR 643; [2007] NSWCA 366 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Earl Burns [2010] NSWCA 265 Ex parte The Queensland Law Society Inc [1984] 1 Qd R 166 Grassby v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 1; [1989] HCA 45 Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club Inc v Commissioner of Police (2008) 234 CLR 532; [2008] HCA 4 Harris v Caladine (1991) 172 CLR 84; [1991] HCA 9 Higgins v Comans [2005] QCA 234; (2005) 153 A Crim R 565 HT v The Queen (2019) 269 CLR 403; [2019] HCA 40 Jago v District Court (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23; [1989] HCA 46 Jarvie v The Magistrates' Court of Victoria at Brunswick [1995] 1 VR 84 John Fairfax & Sons Ltd v Police Tribunal of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 465 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Ryde Local Court (2005) 62 NSWLR 512; [2005] NSWCA 101 Moevao v Department of Labour (1981) 1 NZLR 464 Julian Ronald Moti v The Queen (2011) 245 CLR 456; [2011] HCA 50 Parsons v Martin (1984) 5 FCR 235; [1984] FCA 408 Pelechowski v The Registrar, Court of Appeal (1999) 198 CLR 435; [1999] HCA 19 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Qaumi (AVL) [2015] NSWSC 1711 Re Aguish; ex parte Farrow Mortgage Services Pty Ltd (in liq) (1994) 126 ALR 704 Tagget v Sexton [2009] NSWCA 91; (2009) 255 ALR 522 The Commonwealth of Australia v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd (1980) 147 CLR 39; [1980] HCA 44 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 Wardley Australia Ltd v The State of Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 Witness v Marsden (2000) 49 NSWLR 429; [2000] NSWCA 52 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner of Police (Plaintiff) Gregory John Walker (First Defendant) Local Court of NSW (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Emmett SC with R Lee (Plaintiff) C Parkin (First Defendant)