Nye v State of New South Wales & ors [2002] NSWSC 1266

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Nye v State of New South Wales & ors [2002] NSWSC 1266 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 21458/96 HEARING DATE(S) : 10/09/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 September 2002

Garry Raymond Nye State of New South Wales Wayne Popplewell PARTIES : Wayne Desmond Gordon Peter James Hawley David John Barnett Director of Public Prosecutions JUDGMENT OF : O'Keefe J

COUNSEL : Plaintiff: Mr B Donovan QC with Mr D Baran and Mr C Thompson Defendant: Mr I Temby QC with Mr P Lakatos SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: Miss E Faccin - Carol & O'Dea (Sydney) Defendant: Ms G Fuller - Crown Solicitor's Office (Sydney) CATCHWORDS : Evidence - Subpoena for production of documents - Public Interest Immunity - Informer - Witness or potential witness - Likely compromise of incomplete but ongoing investigation - Operational orders in respect of completed investigation - Informants Register - Legal Professional Privilege - Legal advice - Dominant purpose - Exceptions to claim for Legal Professional Privilege - Crime fraud exception Evidence Act 1898: ss 14CD, 14CF, 14CG LEGISLATION CITED : Royal Commissions Act 1923: s 5 Royal Commission (Police Service) Act 1994 Evidence Act 1995: s 55, 69(1), 69(2), 69(3), 135, 136, 137, dictionary Part 1 & Part 2, cl 1(1)(d) Marks v Beyfus (1890) 25 QBD 494 D v National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (1978) AC 171 Signorotto v Nicholson (1982) VR 413 McGuinness v Attorney General (1940) 63 CLR 73 Cain v Glass (1985) 3 NSWLR 230 Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 Alister v Regina (1983 - 1984) 154 CLR 404 Conway v Rimmer (1968) AC 910 CASES CITED : Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1996 - 1997) 188 CLR 501 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674 O'Reilly v State Bank of Victoria Commissioners (1983) 153 CLR 1 Esso Australia Resources v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1999) 201 CLR 49 Thomason v Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown (1939) 39 SR (NSW) 347 Attorney General (NT) v Kearney (1985) 158 CLR 501 Clark v United States (1933) 289 US 1 Regina v Bell; Ex parte Lees (1980) 146 CLR 141 O'Rourke v Darbishire (1920) AC 581 DECISION : Production refused subject to exceptions.