Travel Compensation Fund v Blair & Ors [2002] NSWSC 1228

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Travel Compensation Fund v Blair & Ors [2002] NSWSC 1228 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division Commercial List FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 50175/02; 50176/02; 50177/02; 50178/02; 50179/02; 50180/02; 50181/02; 50182/02; 50183/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 5 December 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 December 2002

Travel Compensation Fund (Pltf) John Harvey Blair (1D) PARTIES : George Frazis (2D) Scott David Roworth (3D) Gary Kenneth Toomey (4D)

JUDGMENT OF : McClellan J

R McColl SC/I Mescher (Pltf) A J Meagher SC/P R Whitford (1D) COUNSEL : S Donaldson SC/R Butler (2 & 3D) S D Rares SC/M Speakman (4D) A Vincent (ASIC) M Clifton (Air New Zealand) Minter Ellison (Pltf) SOLICITORS : Corrs Chambers Westgarth (1D) Deacons (2 & 3D) Henry Davis York (4D) CATCHWORDS : SUBPOENAE - documents held by ASIC including transcripts of interviews of directors within the Ansett Group - whether in relation to a claim under the Travel Agents Act 1986 the subpoenae should be set aside - Part 37 Rule 8 - "sufficient interest" - "fishing" - abuse of powers LEGISLATION CITED : Travel Agents Act 1986 (NSW) ss 40(3); 40(4) ASIC Act 2001 s 25 Botany Bay Instrumentation & Control Pty Ltd v Stewart [1984] 3 NSWLR 98 Compsyd Pty Limited v Streamline Travel Services Pty Limited (1987) 10 NSWLR 648 Fried & Ors v National Australia Bank (2000) 175 ALR 194 Brand v Digi-Tech (Australia) Ltd (2001) NSWSC 25 CASES CITED : The Commissioner for Railways v Small (1938) 38 SR(NSW) 564 Newcastle City Council v Kern Land Pty Ltd & Anor, unreported, NSWSC, 9 December 1996 Schutt v Queenan [2000] NSWCA 341 NSW Commissioner of Police v Tuxford & Ors [2002] NSWCA 139 Attorney General for Stuart (1994) 34 NSWLR 667 Lakatoi Universal Pty Limited & Ors v Walker, unreported, NSWSC, 31 July 1998 DECISION : See para 31