Attorney General for New South Wales v Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited [2020] NSWCA 40

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Attorney General for New South Wales v Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited [2020] NSWCA 40 Hearing dates: 9 March 2020 Date of orders: 12 March 2020 Decision date: 12 March 2020 Before: Bathurst CJ, Bell P, Gleeson JA Decision: 1. Direct the appellant to file a notice of appeal in the form of the draft notice of appeal referred to in paragraph 10 of the reasons for judgment within 7 days.

2. Appeal allowed with costs.

3. Set aside orders made by the primary judge and, in lieu thereof, order that the Commercial List Summons be dismissed with costs. Catchwords: COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY – inquiry established under Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) – whether conferral of powers and authorities of a commissioner under the Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW) included power to compel testimony or production of documents irrespective of claim of legal professional privilege – meaning of s 143A of Casino Control Act – whether a witness summoned by or appearing before the person presiding at an inquiry entitled to claim legal professional privilege.

PRIVILEGE – legal professional privilege – whether s 143A of Casino Control Act operated to abrogate legal professional privilege – whether s 143A of Casino Control Act conferred power to compel production of documents irrespective of legal professional privilege.

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether s 17(1) of the Royal Commissions Act conferred a power or authority on a commissioner – whether s 143A of the Casino Control Act picked up s 17(1) of the Royal Commissions Act and abrogated legal professional privilege – principle of legality – legislation to be construed in context of case law existing at time of enactment – meaning of "protection" afforded to a witness in s 11(3) of Royal Commissions Act – permissible use of extrinsic materials. Legislation Cited: Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) ss 3, 4A(1), 143, 143A Casino Control Amendment Act 2001 (NSW) Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) s 81(2) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 474G Foreign Tribunals Evidence Act 1856 (UK) s 1 Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 (NSW) Interpretation (Amendment) Act 1980 (NSW) s 3 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 21(1), 33, 35 James Hardie (Investigations and Proceedings) Act 2004 (Cth) s 4 Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW) ss 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 18A-D, 19(1), Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 1.9(3), (4), (5) Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 AQO v Minister for Finance and Services (2016) 93 NSWLR 46; [2016] NSWCA 248 Balog v Independent Commission Against Corruption (1990) 169 CLR 625; [1990] HCA 28 Cabassi v Vila (1940) 64 CLR 130; [1940] HCA 41 Calvin v Carr [1977] 2 NSWLR 308 Carruthers v Connolly [1998] 1 Qd R 339 Certain Lloyd's Underwriters Subscribing to Contract No IH00AAQS v Cross (2012) 248 CLR 378; [2012] HCA 56 Chu Kheng Lim v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992) 176 CLR 1; [1992] HCA 64 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384; [1997] HCA 2 Commonwealth v Baume (1905) 2 CLR 405; [1905] HCA 11 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 Corporate Affairs Commission of New South Wales v Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319; [1991] HCA 28 Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 213 CLR 543; [2002] HCA 49 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Alderman (1998) 45 NSWLR 526 Elliott v Minister administering Fisheries Management Act 1994 (2018) 97 NSWLR 1082; [2018] NSWCA 123 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Co Pty Limited (1993) 178 CLR 477; [1993] HCA 74 Fingleton v R (2005) 227 CLR 166; [2005] HCA 34 Glencore International AG v Commissioner of Taxation [2019] HCA 26; (2019) 372 ALR 126 Hancock v Rinehart (Privilege) [2016] NSWSC 12 Harrison v Melhem (2008) 72 NSWLR 380; [2008] NSWCA 67 K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Limited v Gordon & Gotch Limited (1985) 157 CLR 309; [1985] HCA 48 Lennon v Gibson and Howes Limited (1919) 26 CLR 285; [1919] AC 709 MacDonald v Australian Securities Commission (No 2) (1994) 48 FCR 210 Melbourne Steamship Co Limited v Moorehead (1912) 15 CLR 333; [1912] HCA 69 Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited v The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority [2020] NSWSC 53 Meteyard v Love (2005) 65 NSWLR 36; [2005] NSWCA 444 Nisselle v Brouwer (2007) 16 VR 296; [2007] VSC 147 Penn-Texas Corporation v Murat Anstalt (No 2) [1964] 2 QB 647 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Ronen (2004) 62 NSWLR 707; [2004] NSWCCA 67 R v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Ex parte Simms [1999] UKHL 33; [2000] 2 AC 115 Rochfort v Trade Practices Commission (1982) 153 CLR 134; [1982] HCA 66 Sirros v Moore [1975] QB 118 Smorgon v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1976) 134 CLR 475; [1976] HCA 53 Thelander v Woodward [1981] 1 NSWLR 644 Toohey v Lewer [1979] 1 NSWLR 673 Watson v M'Ewan [1905] AC 480 Wilson v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (2010) 78 NSWLR 704; [2010] NSWCA 198 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Attorney General for New South Wales (Appellant) Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (First Respondent) The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (Second Respondent) (Submitting appearance) The Hon. PA Bergin SC in her Capacity as Commissioner of an Inquiry Established by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (Third Respondent) (Submitting appearance) Representation: Counsel: J Kirk SC, O Jones (Appellant) S Finch SC, J Stoljar, Z Hillman (First Respondent)