Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Keelendi Farms Pty Ltd; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v TJ O’Brien Investments Pty Ltd; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Edenmore Farms Pty Ltd; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v O’Brien [2023] NSWLEC 132

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Keelendi Farms Pty Ltd; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v TJ O'Brien Investments Pty Ltd; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Edenmore Farms Pty Ltd; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v O'Brien [2023] NSWLEC 132 Hearing dates: 7 June and 28 July 2023 Further written submissions 26 June and 11 July 2023 Date of orders: 30 November 2023 Decision date: 30 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: (1) The defendants' notice of motion filed 5 May 2023 is upheld to the extent that the following documents identified in the prosecutor's index (annexed to the affidavit of Mr Adam Hutchings sworn 26 June 2023) at Annexure A to these reasons for decision be produced to the defendants pursuant to paragraph 2 of the defendants' amended subpoena dated 16 November 2022: (a) 6, 29, 30, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54, 58, 64, 65, 69, 72, 73, 83, 92, 96, 97, 106, 107, 124, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 215 and 216. (2) No order as to costs. Catchwords: SUBPOENA TO PRODUCE – prosecutor claim of legal professional privilege – Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 118 and 119 – communications in relation to investigations of offences on subject land in earlier proceedings – communications between departmental officers – lawyer and client in governmental departments – the Court's inspection of documents subject of privilege claim Legislation Cited: Biodiversity and Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) s 13.6 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 117, 118, 119, 131A, 133 Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW) s 60 Cases Cited: Archer Capital 4A Pty Ltd v Sage Group (No 2) [2013] FCA 1098 Bailey v Director-General, Department of Land and Water Conservation (2009) 74 NSWLR 333 Barnes v Commission of Taxation [2007] FCAFC 88; (2007) 242 ALR 601 Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) (NSW) v Stanizzo [2019] NSWCA 12 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 at 689; 11 ALR 577 Hancock v Rinehart [2016] NSWSC 12 Kennedy v Wallace (2004) 213 ALR 108 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 66 Mortgage Results Pty Ltd v Millsave Holdings Pty Ltd [2017] VSC 704 Osland v Secretary, Department of Justice (2008) 234 CLR 275; [2008] HCA 37 Perazzoli v BankSA [2017] FCAFC 204 R v Petroulias (No 22) (2007) 213 FLR 293; [2007] NSWSC 692 Re Southland Coal Pty Ltd (receivers and managers appointed) (in liq) (2006) 203 FLR 1; 59 ACSR 87; [2006] NSWSC 899 Sydney Airport Corp Ltd v Singapore Airlines [2005] NSWCA 47 TEC Hedland Pty Ltd v The Pilbara Infrastructure Pty Ltd [2020] WASC 364 Victoria v Tabcorp Holdings Ltd [2013] VSCA 180 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Law Society of NSW (2006) 65 NSWLR 502 at 521; [2006] NSWCA 84 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (online ed, LexisNexis Australia) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment (Prosecutor) Keelendi Farms Pty Ltd (Defendant in matters 2022/178680 and 2022/178684) TJ O'Brien Investments Pty Ltd (Defendant in matters 2022/178681 and 2022/178687) Edenmore Farm Pty Ltd (Defendant in matters 2022/178682; 2022/178683; 2022/178685 and 2022/178686) Timothy Justin O'Brien (Defendant in matters 2022/211961; 2022/211962; 2022/211963 and 2022/211964) Representation: Counsel: T Hammond (Prosecutor) J Rogers (Defendants) Solicitors: Department of Planning and Environment (Prosecutor) McGirr Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 2022/178680; 2022/178681; 2022/178682; 2022/178683; 2022/178684; 2022/178685; 2022/178686; 2022/178687; 2022/211961; 2022/211962; 2022/211963; 2022/211964 Publication restriction: Nil