BUSB v R [2011] NSWCCA 39

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: BUSB v R [2011] NSWCCA 39 Hearing dates: 10 February 2011 Decision date: 11 March 2011 Before: Spigelman CJ at 1; Allsop P at 88; Hodgson JA at 94; McClellan CJ at CL at 95; Johnson J at 96 Decision: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - procedure - witnesses - where witnesses are ASIO officials - where identity and facial features of witnesses are screened from accused - whether District Court has implied power to make an order for the screening of witnesses for the purpose of protecting national security - whether District Court erred in the exercise of the power to make screening orders

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - operation and effect of the Commonwealth Constitution -where identity and facial features of witnesses are screened from accused - whether order for non-disclosure of witnesses' facial features violates Chapter III of the Commonwealth Constitution Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912, s 5F Supreme Court Act 1970, s 17 Cases Cited: ASIC v Edensor Nominees Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 1; (2001) 204 CLR 559 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW [2006] HCA 27; (2006) 226 CLR 256 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs [1992] HCA 64; (1992) 176 CLR 1 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Burns [2010] NSWCA 265 Ex parte Queensland Law Society [1984] 1 Qd R 166 Gee v Magistrates Court of South Australia [2005] SASC 315; (2004) 89 SASR 534 Grassby v The Queen [1989] HCA 45; (1989) 168 CLR 1 Harris v Caladine [1991] HCA 9; (1991) 172 CLR 84 Higgins v Comans [2005] QCA 234; (2005) 153 A Crim R 565 International Trust Finance Company Ltd v NSW Crime Commission [2009] HCA 49; (2009) 240 CLR 319 Jarvie v Magistrates' Court of Victoria [1995] 1 VR 84 John Fairfax & Sons Ltd v Police Tribunal of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 465 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v District Court of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 324; (2004) 61 NSWLR 344 John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd v Ryde Local Court [2005] NSWCA 101; (2005) 62 NSWLR 512 Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [1996] HCA 24; (1996) 189 CLR 51 Moevao v Department of Labour (1981) 1 NZLR 464 Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173 Parsons v Martin [1984] FCA 408; (1984) 5 FCR 235 Pelechowski v The Registrar, Court of Appeal (NSW) [1999] HCA 19; (1999) 198 CLR 435 R v Alexandroaia (1995) 81 A Crim R 286 R v Davis [2008] UKHL 36; [2008] 1 AC 1128 R v Hughes [1986] 2 NZLR 129 R v Humby; Ex parte Rooney [1973] HCA 63; (1973) 129 CLR 231 R v Lodhi [2006] NSWCCA 101; (2006) 65 NSWLR 573 R v Lodhi [2006] NSWSC 596; (2006) 163 A Crim R 508 R v Murphy [1990] NI 306 R v Ngo [2003] NSWCCA 82; (2003) 57 NSWLR 55 R v Stipendiary Magistrate of Southport, ex parte Gibson [1993] 2 Qd R 687 State Drug Commission of NSW v Chapman (1987) 12 NSWLR 447 Tagget v Sexton [2009] NSWCA 91; (2009) 255 ALR 522 Thomas v Mowbray [2007] HCA 33; (2007) 233 CLR 307 TKWJ v The Queen [2002] HCA 46; (2002) 212 CLR 124 Witness v Marsden [2000] NSWCA 52; (2000) 49 NSWLR 429 Texts Cited: D Lusty "Anonymous Accusers: An Historical and Comparative Analysis of Secret Witnesses in Criminal Trials" (2002) 24 Sydney Law Review 361 Category: Principal judgment Parties: BUSB (Appellant) Director-General of Security (First Respondent) New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions (Second Respondent) District Court of New South Wales (Third Respondent) Attorney General for the State of New South Wales (Intervening) Representation: Counsel: P Lange, G Scragg (Applicant) T Howe QC, G Kennett SC, A Berger (First Respondent) P Ingram SC, G Tabuteau (Second Respondent) M Sexton SC Solicitor General, N L Sharp (Attorney General Intervening) Solicitors: LawyersCorp Pty Ltd (Applicant) Australian Government Solicitor (First Respondent) Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Second Respondent) Crown Solicitors Office (Intervener) File Number(s): CCA2006/00011417 Publication restriction: Non-publication order - name of applicant. Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2010-04-08 00:00:00 Before: Charteris DCJ File Number(s): 2006/00011417