Attorney General for New South Wales v Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited

(2020) 102 NSWLR 47; [2020] NSWCA 40

NSW Court of Appeal

View on CaseLaw

Built by Barristers,
For Australian Law.

See how it works

Interrogate

Catchwords

1. Commissions of Inquiry
2. › Inquiry established under Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW)
3. › Conferral of powers and authorities of commissioner under Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW)
4. › Whether power to compel testimony or production of documents irrespective of claim of legal professional privilege
5. › Whether s 17(1) of Royal Commissions Act conferred 'power or authority' on commissioner
6. › Whether s 143A(2) of Casino Control Act independently applied s 17(1) to witnesses
7. › Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW), s 143A
8. › Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW), ss 8, 11, 17, 18
1. Privilege
2. › Legal professional privilege
3. › Abrogation by statute
4. › Whether s 143A of Casino Control Act operated to abrogate legal professional privilege
5. › Whether s 143A conferred power to compel production of documents irrespective of legal professional privilege
6. › Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW), s 143A
7. › Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW), s 17(1)
1. Statutory Interpretation
2. › Construction of statute in context of existing case law at time of enactment
3. › Whether s 17(1) of Royal Commissions Act conferred a power or authority on a commissioner
4. › Meaning of 'protection' afforded to a witness in s 11(3) of Royal Commissions Act
5. › Principle of legality
6. › Whether abrogation of fundamental right required express words or could be achieved by necessary implication
7. › Permissible use of extrinsic materials
8. › Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW), s 143A
9. › Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW), ss 11, 17

Quick Take

Practitioners advising witnesses summoned to produce documents at inquiries under the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) presided over by a qualified person under s 143A(1)(b) should note that legal professional privilege is abrogated by the combined operation of s 143A and s 17(1) of the Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW).