High Court Registry closure

The High Court Registry will be closed from 4:00pm AEDT on Wednesday, 24 December 2025 and will re-open at 9:00am on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Any party seeking to file a document due to be filed between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 has an automatic extension of time under the High Court Rules 2004 (Rule 4.01.5) until 4:00pm on Friday, 2 January 2026 to file the document. Any documents lodged between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 will be reviewed on 2 January 2026.

All inquiries for the High Court will be considered when the Registry re-opens on Friday, 2 January 2026. If a matter is of extreme urgency, you may telephone 1800 570 566, select Option 1 and leave a voicemail. In addition, provide details by email to: registry@hcourt.gov.au.

Tony Strickland (a pseudonym) v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
Donald Galloway (a pseudonym) v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
Edmund Hodges (a pseudonym) v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
Rick Tucker (a pseudonym) v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

[2018] HCA 53
Judgment date
Case number
M168/2017
M174/2017
M175/2017
M176/2017
Before
Kiefel CJ, Bell, Gageler, Keane, Nettle, Gordon, Edelman JJ
Catchwords

Criminal practice – Abuse of process – Where Australian Crime Commission ("ACC") received information concerning allegations that company involved in criminal activity – Where allegations referred to Australian Federal Police ("AFP") – Where appellants declined to participate in cautioned record of interview with AFP – Where appellants compulsorily examined by ACC – Where examiner aware that appellants were suspects who may be charged with an offence – Where examiner permitted AFP officers to watch examinations from nearby room without disclosing their presence to appellants – Where examiner permitted dissemination of examination material to AFP and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions – Where appellants subsequently charged with Commonwealth and Victorian offences – Where appellants sought permanent stay of prosecutions for abuse of process – Where primary judge permanently stayed prosecutions – Where Court of Appeal of Supreme Court of Victoria allowed appeals from orders of primary judge – Whether ACC conducted special investigation under Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) – Whether examinations unlawful – Whether prosecution derived forensic advantage from examinations – Whether appellants suffered forensic disadvantage as result of examinations – Whether examinations unlawful infringement upon appellants' right to silence – Whether examiner's conduct reckless – Whether permanent stay necessary to prevent administration of justice falling into disrepute.

Words and phrases – "abuse of process", "administration of justice", "coercive powers", "compulsive powers", "compulsory examination", "derivative use", "direct use", "dissemination of examination product", "fair trial", "forensic advantage", "forensic choice", "forensic disadvantage", "illegally obtained evidence", "improper purpose", "integrity of the court", "locked in", "may be charged", "non-publication directions", "permanent stay", "prejudice", "prosecution brief", "prosecutorial team", "reckless", "right to silence", "special investigation", "suspect", "trial directions", "unlawfully obtained evidence".

Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) – ss 7C, 46A, Pt II Div 2.

Files
53.rtf (911.87 KB)
53.pdf (612.23 KB)