Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie [2017] NSWLEC 88

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie [2017] NSWLEC 88 Hearing dates: 22 June 2017 Date of orders: 21 July 2017 Decision date: 21 July 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders that the motion is dismissed. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – privilege – legal professional privilege – documents produced under subpoena by expert witnesses in prosecution – prosecutor claimed privilege over and objected to access being given to privileged documents – defendants seek access to subpoenaed documents – whether privilege claim and objection to access determined under Evidence Act 1995 or common law – whether documents privileged – whether privilege waived – privilege claim upheld and access not granted Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 ss 118, 119, 126A, 126B, 131A Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 144 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 rr 1.9; 33.8 Cases Cited: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd (2009) 174 FCR 547; [2007] FCAFC 32 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Australian Lending Centre Pty Ltd (No 2) (2011) 283 ALR 299; [2011] FCA 1057 Buzzle Operations Pty Ltd (in liq) v Apple Computer Australia Pty Ltd (2009) 74 NSWLR 469; [2009] NSWSC 225 Carbotech – Australia Pty Ltd v Yates [2008] NSWSC 1151 Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 201 CLR 49; [1999] HCA 67 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1 National Employers' Mutual General Association v Waind and Hill [1978] 1 NSWLR 372 New Cap Reinsurance Corp Ltd (in liq) v Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd [2007] NSWSC 258 Ritz Hotel Ltd v Charles of the Ritz Ltd [No 22] (1988) 14 NSWLR 132 State of New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation [2011] NSWCA 60 Styles v Clayton Utz [2011] NSWSC 1314 Tavcol Pty Ltd v Valbeet Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1002 Towney v Minister for Land and Water Conservation (NSW) (1997) 76 FCR 401 Trade Practices Commission v Sterling (1979) 36 FLR 244 Traderight (NSW) Pty Limited v Bank of Queensland [2013] NSWSC 211 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Grafil Pty Ltd (Defendant) Environment Protection Authority v Robert Mackenzie Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Robert Mackenzie (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Rushton SC and Mr P English (Prosecutor) Mr CR Ireland (Defendants)