SG v New South Wales Crime Commission [2016] NSWSC 1615

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SG v New South Wales Crime Commission [2016] NSWSC 1615 Hearing dates: 8, 26 April 2016 Date of orders: 17 November 2016 Decision date: 17 November 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Motion to dismiss the proceedings dismissed; (2) Legal professional privilege available for some documents in accordance with the reasons for judgment; (3) Detailed directions on the availability of legal professional privilege to be subject to further submissions and inspection by the Court. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – power of NSW Crime Commission and effect of statutory secrecy provisions discussed. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – the scheme and purposes of the Crime Commission Act 2012 – the interpretation of the secrecy provisions. LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE – some documents created as a result of illegality – privilege does not apply – but illegality limited and some documents (or parts of documents) privileged. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – abuse of process on account of illegality underpinning commencement of proceedings – discussion – motion to dismiss refused. Legislation Cited: Constitution Crime Commission Act 2012 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Criminal Assets Recovery Act 1990 Evidence Act 1995 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Agar v Hyde [2000] HCA 41; (2004) 201 CLR 552 Amcor Limited and Ors v Barnes and Ors [2011] VSC 341 Attorney-General (NT) v Kearney [1985] HCA 60; (1985) 158 CLR 500 Bullivant v Attorney-General for Victoria [1901] AC 196 Dubai Aluminium Co Ltd v Al Alawi and Ors [1999] 1 WLR 1964 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) [1964] HCA 69; (1964) 112 CLR 125 Imerman v Tchenguiz and Ors; Imerman v Imerman [2011] 2 WLR 592 Kang v Kwan [2001] NSWSC 698 Kuwait Airways Corpn v Iraqi Airways Co (No 6) [2005] 1 WLR 2734 Memory Corporation Plc and Anor v Sidhu and Anor (No 2) [2000] 1 WLR 1443 Moschi v Lep Air Services Ltd; Lep Air Services Ltd v Rolloswin [1973] AC 331 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 R v Cox and Railton (1884) 14 Q.B.D. 153 Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia [2010] HCA 28; (2010) 241 CLR 118 Category: Principal judgment Parties: SG (Plaintiff) New South Wales Crime Commission (First Defendant) State of New South Wales (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: TGR Parker SC and S Hartford Davis (Plaintiff) NJ Williams SC and B Mostafa (First Defendant) K Richardson (Second Defendant)