Woollahra Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government

Land and Environment Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Woollahra Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 44 Hearing dates:19 April 2016Date of orders: 19 April 2016 Decision date: 19 April 2016 Jurisdiction:Class 4Before: Preston CJ Decision: See paragraphs [6], [14], [16] and [21] Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – subpoenas for production of documents – public interest immunity – whether documents subject to – documents submitted or prepared for submission to Cabinet – client legal privilege – legal advice to one department given to another department – whether waiver – forensic purpose of subpoena for certain classes of documents – whether no legitimate forensic purpose Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 s 117 Local Government Act 1993 ss 218F, 263 Category:Procedural and other rulingsParties: Woollahra Municipal Council (Applicant) Minister for Local Government (First Respondent) Dr Robert Lang (Second Respondent) Chief Executive, Office of Local Government (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Dr C J Birch SC with Mr R Higgins and Ms T Phillips (Applicant) Mr N C Hutley SC with Mr J Hutton, Dr J Lucy and Mr T O’Brien (Respondents)    Solicitors: Speed and Stracey Lawyers (Applicant) Crown Solicitor’s Office (Respondent) File Number(s):40297 of 2016Publication restriction:NoJudgment Woollahra Municipal Council has by subpoena filed 7 April 2016 to the Department of Premier and Cabinet sought production of various documents relating to the proposal of the Minister for Local Government to amalgamate the local government areas of Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick. The Minister for Local Government has moved by notice of...