Grand Rozelle Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW (No 3) [2024] NSWLEC 129

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grand Rozelle Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW (No 3) [2024] NSWLEC 129 Hearing dates: 8 October 2024 Date of orders: 29 November 2024 Decision date: 29 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 3 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: (1) Transport for NSW's notice of motion filed 11 September 2024 claiming public interest immunity in relation to the draft ministerial speaking notes (pp 5-9 of confidential exhibit CCD-5), Cabinet submission (pp 10-19 of confidential exhibit CCD-5), Briefing document for the Premier of New South Wales regarding key issues of the WHTBL (pp 20-37 of confidential exhibit CCD-5) and Information disclosing the content of submissions to a Cabinet Committee (information marked in green at pp 23, 35, 39, 42, 44 (at points 2, 4 and 5) and 46 of confidential exhibit CCD-5) is upheld. (2) The parties to seek to agree on an appropriate form of confidentiality order in relation to the document titled "CE17/1027 (Attachment B Memo)" (pp 48-52 of confidential exhibit CCD-5), and advise chambers within 7 days of these orders the form of confidentiality order they seek to have the Court make. (3) The confidential affidavit of Charlotte Camilla Drover dated 4 October 2024 and confidential exhibit CCD-5 be returned to the Crown Solicitor's Office. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — claim of public interest immunity over Cabinet documents — ss 130 and 131 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) — the Court's inspection of the documents subject of the claim Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 130, 131A, 133 Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW) s 70 Cases Cited: Attorney General v Kaddour & Turkmani [2001] NSWCCA 456 Attorney-General (NSW) v Stuart (1994) 34 NSWLR 667; (1994) 75 A Crim R 8 Commonwealth v Northern Land Council (1993) 176 CLR 604; [1993] HCA 24 Deren v State of New South Wales (unreported, NSWSC, 28 April 1995) Grand Rozelle Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW (No 2) [2024] NSWLEC 83 Kamasaee v Commonwealth (No 5) (2016) 52 VR 322; [2016] VSC 595 Kamasaee v Commonwealth of Australia (No 3) (2016) 52 VR 322; [2016] VSC 438 Ku-ring-gai Council v Garry West as delegate of the Acting Director-General, Office of Local Government (2017) 95 NSWLR 1; (2017) 220 LGERA 386; [2017] NSWCA 54 National Crime Authority v Gould (1989) 23 FCR 191 at 198; (1989) 46 A Crim R 1 R v Meissner (1994) 76 A Crim R 81 R v Smith (1996) 86 A Crim R 308 RMG Services Pty Ltd v South Australia [1993] SASC 4133 Rogers v Home Secretary [1973] AC 388; [1972] 2 All ER 1057; [1972] 3 WLR 279 Rowan v Cornwall and Others [1999] SASC 178 Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1; [1978] HCA 43 Spencer v Commonwealth (2012) 206 FCR 309; [2012] FCAFC 169 State of New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation [2011] NSWCA 60 Yooyen, Tait & Poompiriyapinte v R (1991) 57 A Crim R 226 Young v Quin (1985) 4 FCR 48; [1985] FCA 18 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Grand Rozelle Pty Ltd (Applicant, Respondent on the motion) Transport for NSW (Respondent, Applicant on the motion) Representation: Counsel: J McKelvey (Applicant, Respondent on the motion) J Emmett SC and D Tynan (Respondent, Applicant on the motion) Solicitors: Addisons (Applicant) Crown Solicitor's Office (Respondent) File Number(s): 2023/85834-008 Publication restriction: Nil