MARKISIC v COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA & ANOR [2007] NSWCA 92

Reported Decision: 69 NSWLR 737

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: MARKISIC v COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA & ANOR [2007] NSWCA 92

HEARING DATE(S): 30 March 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 23 April 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Campbell JA at 1; Handley AJA at 86; Bell J at 87

DECISION: (1) Appeal dismissed. (2) Appellant to pay costs of Respondents.

CATCHWORDS: CONTEMPT – civil and criminal contempt – where no appeal from acquittal of charge of criminal contempt – distinction between civil and criminal contempt – whether charge was of civil or criminal contempt – Supreme Court Act 1970, section 101 – Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union & Ors v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98 – Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 - CONTEMPT – subpoena to produce documents – alleged failure to comply with subpoena – elements to be proved to establish a contempt of this type – that alleged contemnor had documents of the type called for by the subpoena – mental element of the contempt – standard of proof requires proof beyond reasonable doubt – Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 - - COURTS AND JUDGES – bias – actual bias – whether trial judge displayed actual bias - - PRECEDENT – proposition of law assumed to be correct but not argued or considered in earlier decision – whether binding

Courts Legislation Amendment Act 1996 LEGISLATION CITED: Supreme Court Act 1970 Supreme Court Rules

Archer v Howell (1992) 7 WAR 33 Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union & Ors v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98 Baker v the Queen [1975] AC 774 Bhagat v Global Custodians Ltd [2002] NSWCA 160 In Re Bramblevale Ltd [1970] 1 Ch 128 Fairclough v Manchester Ship Canal Co [1897] WN 7; 41 SJ 225 CASES CITED: John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (NSW) (2000) 181 ALR 694 Markisic (Oliver) v The Commonwealth [2006] NSWCA 150 R (Kadhim) v Brent London Borough Council Housing Benefit Review Board [2001] QB 955 Savouts v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [2000] FCA 1059 Thorpe v Marr's Furniture Removals Pty Ltd [2000] QSC 279 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 Wyszynski v Bill [2005] NSWSC 110 X & Ors v Australian Prudential Regulation Authority & Anor [2007] HCA 4; (2007) 232 ALR 421