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The Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) and the Demise of Legal Professional Privilege

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2025

Alex Bruce
Alex Bruce*
Affiliation:
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; The Australian National University
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Abstract

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Type
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Information
Federal Law Review , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , June 2002 , pp. 373 - 398
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 The Australian National University

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Footnotes

The author would like to thank Mr James Stellios and Ms Peta Spender for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper, first presented at the Queensland Law Society/Queensland Bar Association Annual Symposium Brisbane, March 1–2 2002. The views expressed in this article are those of the author only.

References

1 ACCC v The Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd [2001] ATPR 41-808 ('Daniels').

2 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ('TPA').

3 The High Court in Esso Australia Resources Limited v FCT (1999) 201 CLR 49 ('Esso') considered that the expression 'legal professional privilege' might erroneously suggest that the privilege is that of the lawyer. Accordingly, the Court suggested that the expression 'client legal privilege' as employed in the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) is more accurate see 54 (Gleeson CJ, Gaudron and Gummow JJ) and 81 (Kirby J).

4 Sir Zelman Cowan, 'The Private Man' in D McDonald, Highlights of The Boyer Lectures 1959-2000 (1st ed, 2001) 127.

5 ACCC v IMB Group Pty Ltd (in liq) (1999) ATPR 41-688, 42,802.

6 Pagone, G T, 'Access to Information: Guerilla Warfare Under the Trade Practices Act (1982)' 5 University New South Wales Law Journal 192, 219Google Scholar.

7 The importance of such a balance was determinative for Gleeson CJ in Caltex Refining Co Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1991) 25 NSWLR 118, 127 ('Caltex').

8 Pearse v Pearse (1846) 63 ER 950, 957.

9 Carter v Northmore Hale Davey & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121, 147.

10 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Limited (1996-97) 188 CLR 501, 527 ('Propend').

11 Corporate Affairs Commission (NSW) v Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319 ('Yuill').

12 Dorne, Boniface, 'Legal Professional Privilege and Disclosure Powers of Investigative Agencies' (1992) 16 Criminal Law Journal 320.Google Scholar

13 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 53, 128-9.

14 Carter v Northmore Hale Davy & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121, 128.

15 Oceanic Sunline Special Shipping Co Inc v Fay (1988) 165 CLR 197, 252 3 (Deane J).

16 See for example, Ray, Steinwall, 'Abrogation of Legal Professional Privilege in Trade Practices Matters' (2001) 16 (10) Trade Practices Law Bulletin 105, 106-7.Google Scholar

17 See Adrian, Zuckerman, 'Legal Professional Privilege and the Ascertainment of Truth' (1990) 53 Modern Law Review 381; Propend (1997) 188 CLR 501, 581; Esso (1999) 201 CLR 49, 81.Google Scholar

18 ACCC, 'Full Federal Court Upholds ACCC Claim: Trade Practices Act Overrides Legal Professional Privilege' (Media Release, No 53/01, 16 March 2001).

19 Annabel, Hepworth, 'Privilege Decision Faces Test', Australian Financial Review, 23 March 2001 34.Google Scholar

20 Annabel, Hepworth, 'Court Enhances ACCC's Corporate Policing Powers', Australian Financial Review, 17 March 2001.Google Scholar

21 Ibid.

22 ACCC, 'ACCC To Oppose Woolworth's High Court Application To Stop Production of Liquor Investigation Documents', (Media Release, No 256/01, 12 October 2001).

23 ACCC, 'ACCC To Oppose Cole's High Court Application To Stop Production of Liquor Investigation Documents', (Media Release, No 263/01, 22 October 2001).

24 See (2001) ATPR, 42,795 ( Wilcox J), 42,802 ( Moore J).

25 Pyneboard Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1982–83) 152 CLR 328 ('Pyneboard').

26 [2001] ATPR 41-808, 42,805.

27 Pyneboard (1983) 152 CLR 328, 343.

28 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674, 682.

29 Vikki Wayne, 'The Corporation and Legal Professional Privilege' (1997) 8 Australian Journal of Corporate Law 25; Sue McNicol, 'The High Court Rules–Corporations and the Privilege Against Self Incrimination' (1994) Law Institute Journal 1058.

30 Grant v Downs (1976) 135 CLR 674, 685.

31 Trade Practices Commission v Sterling [1979] ATPR 40-121; Propend (1996-97) 188 CLR 501.

32 Waterford v The Commonwealth (1987) 163 CLR 54.

33 Constantine v Trade Practices Commission [1994] ATPR 41-291.

34 Mann v Carnell (1999) 201 CLR 1.

35 Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319.

36 Carter v Managing Partner, Northmore, Hale Davey & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121; (1999) 201 CLR 49.

37 Bonifcae, above n 12, 323.

38 Ibid.

39 Ibid.

40 Caltex (1993) 178 CLR 477.

41 Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319, 332 (Dawson J).

42 (1987) 162 CLR 514, 523.

43 Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277, 304.

44 (1994) 179 CLR 427, 437.

45 (1990) 171 CLR 1, 18.

46 Plenty v Dillon (1990) 171 CLR 635, 654 (Gaudron and McHugh JJ).

47 Yuill v Corporate Affairs Commission (NSW) (1990) 20 NSWLR 386, 403 ( Kirby P).

48 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427, 437-8.

49 (1976) 135 CLR 674, 686.

50 Pyneboard (1982) 152 CLR 328; Caltex (1993) 178 CLR 477.

51 See generally Boniface, above n 12.

52 Vikki, Wayne, 'The Corporation and Legal Professional Privilege' (1997) 8 Australian Journal of Corporate Law 25, 31Google Scholar

53 Trade Practices Commission v Abbco Ice Works Pty Ltd (1994) 52 FCR 96.

54 See Andrews, Bondfield and M Dirkis, 'The Death of Privilege for the Privileged?' (1994) 4 Australian Journal of Corporate Law 1.

55 Wayne, above n 52.

56 Carter v Northmore Hale Davy & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121, 132 ( Deane J).

57 Ibid 145 ( Toohey J).

58 Ibid 161 ( McHugh J).

59 (1996) 188 CLR 501, 552 (McHugh J), 565 (Gummow J) and 582–3 (Kirby J).

60 An exercise in 'fuzzy thinking'—see Carl Sagan, 'The Fine Art of Baloney Detection–The Demon Haunted World' (1995) 210-16.

61 Above n 52, 25.

62 As Brennan J stated in Mabo v Queensland [No 2] (1992) 175 CLR 1, 42 '[I]nternational law is a legitimate and important influence on the development of the common law, especially when international law declares the existence of human rights'. See also Kartinyeri v Commonwealth (1998) 195 CLR 337, 418.

63 See R v Derby Magistrates' Court Ex parte B [1996] AC 487. See also Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

64 (1992) 35 FCR 447, 45.

65 Esso (1999) 201 CLR 49, 91.

66 Suzanne, McNicol, 'Professional Privilege Spreads its Wings' (1996) 70 (11) Law Institute Journal 32; Alistair Abadee, 'The Forward March of Legal Professional Privilege' [2000] Bar News (Spring) 9.Google Scholar

67 Pyneboard (1983) 152 CLR 328, 341.

68 (1994) 179 CLR 427, 438.

69 Pyneboard (1983) 152 CLR 328, 341.

70 (2001) ATPR 41-808, 42,796.

71 Propend (1997) 188 CLR 501.

72 Carter v Northmore Hale Davey & Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121, 134 ( Deane J ).

73 Where discovery is given pursuant to O 15 of the Federal Court Rules.

74 Brambles Holdings Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1980) ATPR 40-179.

75 Alex, Bruce, 'Caltex and Abbco Ice Works—The End of the Road for Corporations?' (1995) 23 Australian Business Law Review 7Google Scholar.

76 Beazley v Steinhardt [1999] FCA 1255 (14 September 1999).

77 Daniels (2001) ATPR 41-808, 42,804.

78 Propend (1997) 188 CLR 501, 556 (McHugh J).

79 O'Rourke v Darbyshire [1920] AC 581, 604.

80 Huddart Parker & Co Proprietary Ltd v Moorehead (1909) 8 CLR 330, 407.

81 Caltex (1992–93) 178 CLR 477, 554.

82 (1999) 201 CLR 49, 72-3 (Gleeson CJ, Gummon and Gaudron JJ),105 ( Callinan J).

83 Ibid 91.

84 Ibid.

85 Caltex Refining Co Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1991) 25 NSWLR 118, 127.

86 Caltex (1992-93) 178 CLR 477, 500.

87 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52, 120.

88 Esso (1999) 201 CLR 49, 89.

89 Yuill v Corporate Affairs Commission of New South Wales (1990) 20 NSWLR 386, 398 (Kirby P).

90 Baker v Campbell (1983) 153 CLR 52, 95, 96, 97.

91 Minter v Priest [1930] AC 558.

92 In s 155(7) of the TPA.

93 Mills v Meeking (1990) 169 CLR 214, 234.

94 Salomon v Salomon [1897] AC 22, 38 (Lord Watson).

95 Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319, 331 (Dawson J), 339 (Gaudron J).

96 Black-Clawson International Ltd v Papierwerke Waldhof-Aschaffenberg AG [1975] AC 591, 613.

97 Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319, 331 (Dawson J).

98 Craig, Carracher, 'Legal Professional Privilege, Statutory Interpretation and Yuill' (1991) 12 Statute Law Review 22 8, 232Google Scholar.

99 Joyce v Grimshaw [2001] FCA 52, para 66.

100 Boniface, above n 12, 328.

101 Propend (1996-97) 188 CLR 501, 582 (Kirby J).

102 Yuill v Corporate Affairs Commission of New South Wales (1990) 20 NSWLR 386.

103 Ibid 405.

104 Oceanic Sunline Special Shipping Co Inc v Fay (1988) 165 CLR 197, 252-3 (Deane J).

105 Esso Australia Resources Limited v FCT (1999) 201 CLR 49, 93.

106 Emanuele v Australian Securities Commission (1997) 71 ALJR 171, 731.

107 Propend (1996-97) 188 CLR 501, 581.

108 See generally, Benjamin Saul, 'Is Removing Legal Professional Privilege a Policy Imperative?' (2001) (October) Law Society Journal 67.

109 Baker v Campbell (1989) 153 CLR 1, 96-7, 104-5.

110 Pyneboard (1983) 152 CLR 382, 341; Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319, 348.

111 Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319, 346.

112 Pyneboard (1983) 152 CLR 382.

113 Transcript of Proceedings, Daniels Corporation International Pty Ltd v ACCC (High Court of Australia, Gummow J, 15 February 2001).

114 Yuill (1991) 172 CLR 319, 338-9.

115 Ibid 351.

116 Caltex (1992-93) 178 CLR 477, 556.

117 World Series Cricket Pty Ltd v Parish (1977) ATPR 40-040, 17,426; ACCC v The IMB Group Pty Ltd (in liq) (1999) ATPR 41-688, 42,802-3.

118 Esso (1999) 201 CLR 49, 89.

119 Ibid 92.

120 (1998) 195 CLR 337, 417-8 (Kirby J).

121 This is a view shared by Ian Tonking, '2001-The Year in Review', (2002) Australian Trade Practices News, Report 516, 6 February 2002, 4.