British American Tobacco Australia Limited v Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 The applicant, British American Tobacco Australia Limited, by notice of motion filed on 1 June 2011, seeks an order that this appeal be fixed for hearing on an expedited basis. 2 The appeal instituted by the applicant on 21 April 2011 takes issue with a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which had the effect of denying the applicant access to legal advice obtained approximately 15 years ago by the respondent, the Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing, concerning compliance by Australia with its international obligations in respect of then proposed plain packaging of tobacco products. 3 The Chief Justice has directed that the appeal be heard by a Full Court in view of the divergent authorities concerning s 16(3) of the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 (Cth). 4 The reason advanced by the applicant for an order expediting the appeal is that it desires to participate in a public debate currently underway concerning the proposed introduction of legislation to provide for plain packaging of tobacco products. The applicant said it requires the legal advice in order to participate in that debate. 5 The applicant learned yesterday that the respondent intends to promulgate regulations to achieve the plain packaging outcome in July 2011. The regulations are intended to be introduced pursuant to the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 once enacted. Mr Myers QC, who appeared on behalf of the applicant, explained that the effective instrument for the introduction of the plain packaging system lies in the regulations rather than the legislation to which they refer. It is likely that there will be a 60-day period of consultation from the date in July when the regulations are made available. The applicant contends that unless it has a judgment prior to the end of the consultation period, there may no longer be any utility in its appeal. Whilst the applicant's right to access the legal advice, if successful in the appeal, would remain, the substantial value of that right would be lost. 6 The applicant explained that it is anticipated that the appeal would take one day to be heard. It also pointed out that the respondent initially agreed to the expedition of the appeal, subject only to the convenience of counsel for the respondent who has apparently been retained in the matter for a considerable time. At the hearing, the respondent's position changed to some extent. The respondent did not oppose the order for expedition but said that it is a matter for the Court. The respondent accepted that if the appeal is not resolved before the end of the consultation period any right to the legal advice would be diminished to some degree, but it did not accept that the appeal would be valueless.

CONSIDERATION 7 Whilst the lack of opposition by the respondent to the application for expedition is a matter of relevance and some significance to the Court, at the heart of this application is a necessity for the Court to balance the consequences of refusing an order for expedition against the effect on other litigants waiting in the appeal lists. If the order is not made, the appeal would come on in the ordinary course in the November sittings of the Court. 8 There is some weakness in the position put by the applicant that access to the legal advice is necessary in order for the applicant to participate in the public debate and to make representations in the consultation period about the conformity of the legislation with Australia's international obligations. The applicant is able to obtain its own legal advice and use it in the public debate to influence opinion, if it be the case that the proposed legislation does not conform to Australia's international legal obligations. In that regard, it is unnecessary for the applicant to have access to the legal advice obtained by the respondent. 9 Thus, the value to the applicant of obtaining the legal advice given to the respondent lies in the applicant's ability to contend that, not only is the legislation in breach of Australia's international obligations, if that be the case, but that the respondent has been advised to that effect. There is, therefore, only a fairly small detriment which the applicant suffers if the appeal takes the ordinary course and is heard in November. 10 Whilst the applicant's reason for advancing the case in the appeal list is not strong, and the result of advancing it will be to disadvantage other appeals in the list, consideration should be given to the fact that part of the right which the applicant seeks to assert will disappear forever if the expedition is not accorded to it. In other words, the balance is slightly tipped in favour of the applicant as a result of the submission of Mr Myers that the right to utilise the legal advice, if the Court decides in favour of the applicant, is one which should be taken into consideration in favour of the applicant. 11 Save for one issue therefore, the Court will order that the appeal be accorded such expedition as the Court can afford it. Freely interpreted and without treading on the toes of those who set the lists, it is expected, but cannot be guaranteed, that this will mean the case will obtain a hearing in or about the August appeal sittings.

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Judgment (3 paragraphs)

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Cited By (5)