"A" v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2014] NSWSC 1167

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: "A" v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2014] NSWSC 1167 Hearing dates: 11 August 2014 Decision date: 27 August 2014 Before: Harrison J Decision: 1. Order that the plaintiff's notice to produce dated 31 July 2014 be set aside. 2. Dismiss the plaintiff's summons filed 11 July 2014. 3. Order that the plaintiff pay the costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review - decision of Independent Commission Against Corruption not to disclose basis upon which a summons to produce documents was issued to plaintiff - notice to produce served by plaintiff - application by Commission to set aside notice to produce - ICAC Act s 111(3) - whether s 111(3) applies to the Commission as a separate legal personality - whether s 111(3) applies to documents created by the Commission

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - judicial review -summons to produce documents issued by Commission to plaintiff - ICAC Act s 35(1) - plaintiff's application to set aside summons - whether summons authorised by s 35 - whether Commission took into account relevant considerations in issuing the summons - whether decision to issue summons reasonable - whether decision to issue summons illogical, irrational or not based on findings or inferences of fact - whether Commission failed to accord procedural fairness to plaintiff

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - judicial review - whether s 111(3) inconsistent with power of Supreme Court to grant relief in relation to jurisdictional error - whether Court has effective supervision of decisions made by the Commission under s 111(3)

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - implied freedom of communication on governmental and political matters - whether s 35(1) inconsistent with the implied freedom - whether s 35 effectively burdens freedom of communication on government or political matters in its terms, operation or effect - whether a legitimate statutory purpose can be identified - whether s 35 reasonably appropriate and adapted or proportionate to an identified legitimate statutory purpose Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Cases Cited: AB Pty Ltd v Australian Crime Commission [2009] FCA 119; (2009) 179 FCR 296 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin [1990] HCA 21; (1990) 170 CLR 1 Attorney-General (SA) v Corporation of the City of Adelaide [2013] HCA 3; (2013) 249 CLR 1 Australian Crime Commission v NTD8 [2009] FCAFC 86; (2009) 177 FCR 263 Coleman v Power [2004] HCA 39; (2004) 220 CLR 1 Commissioner of Police (NSW) v Sleiman [2011] NSWCA 21; (2011) 78 NSWLR 340 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission [2000] HCA 6; (2000) 199 CLR 135 Cunliffe v The Commonwealth [1994] HCA 44; (1994) 182 CLR 272 Duncan v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2014] NSWSC 1018 Egglishaw v Australian Crime Commission (No 3) [2009] FCA 1027; (2009) 76 ATR 365 Fardon v Attorney-General (Qld) [2004] HCA 46; (2004) 223 CLR 575 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Citibank Ltd (1989) 85 ALR 588; (1989) 20 FCR 403 George v Rockett [1990] HCA 26; (1990) 170 CLR 104 Glynn v Independent Commission Against Corruption (1990) 20 ALD 214 Hagan v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2001] NSWSC 890 Hogan v Hinch [2011] HCA 4; (2011) 243 CLR 506 Independent Commission Against Corruption v Cornwall (1993) 116 ALR 97; (1993) 28 NSWLR 207 Jones v Dunkel [1959] HCA 8; (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kazal v Independent Commission Against Corruption [2013] NSWSC 53; (2013) 224 A Crim R 510 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation [1997] HCA 25; (1997) 189 CLR 520 Levy v Victoria [1997] HCA 31; (1997) 189 CLR 579 Melbourne Home of Ford Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (No 3) [1980] FCA 94; (1980) 31 ALR 519 MF1 v National Crime Authority (1991) 105 ALR 1; (1991) 33 FCR 449 Miller v TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd [1986] HCA 60; (1986) 161 CLR 556 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Home Affairs v Zentai [2012] HCA 28; (2012) 246 CLR 213 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; (2013) 249 CLR 332 Monis v The Queen [2013] HCA 4; (2013) 87 ALJR 340 Mulholland v Australian Electoral Commission [2004] HCA 41; (2004) 220 CLR 181 Muschinski v Dodds [1985] HCA 78; (1985) 160 CLR 583 National Companies and Securities Commission v News Corporation Ltd [1984] HCA 29; (1984) 156 CLR 296 Nicholas v The Queen [1998] HCA 9; (1998) 193 CLR 173 Public Service Board of NSW v Osmond [1986] HCA 7; (1986) 159 CLR 656 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Anderson; Ex parte Ipec-Air Pty Ltd [1965] HCA 27; (1965) 113 CLR 177 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; ex parte 2HD Pty Ltd [1979] HCA 62; (1979) 144 CLR 45 Roach v Electoral Commissioner [2007] HCA 43; (2007) 233 CLR 162 Ross v Costigan (1982) 59 FLR 184; (1982) 41 ALR 319 Rowe v Electoral Commissioner [2010] HCA 46; (2010) 243 CLR 1 South Australia v Totani [2010] HCA 39; (2010) 242 CLR 1 The Age Company Ltd v Liu [2013] NSWCA 26; (2013) 82 NSWLR 268 Unions NSW v New South Wales [2013] HCA 58; (2013) 88 ALJR 227 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council [2001] HCA 12; (2001) 202 CLR 439 Wainohu v New South Wales [2011] HCA 24; (2011) 243 CLR 181 Wotton v Queensland [2012] HCA 2; (2012) 246 CLR 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: "A" (Plaintiff) Independent Commission Against Corruption (Defendant) Attorney General (Intervening) Representation: Counsel: B R McClintock SC & D F C Thomas (Plaintiff) R P L Lancaster SC & S Robertson (Defendant) M G Sexton SC SG & K Richardson (Attorney General - Intervening) Solicitors: Johnson, Winter & Slattery (Plaintiff) Crown Solicitor's Office (Defendant & Attorney General) File Number(s): 2014/205483 Publication restriction: This is a redacted version of the judgment given on 27 August 2014. Publication of the unredacted version of the judgment is restricted by orders made on 11 August 2014 pursuant to s 7 of the Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010. Those orders do not prohibit publication of this redacted version of the judgment.