Miller v University of New South Wales [2003] FCAFC 180

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Miller v University of New South Wales [2003] FCAFC 180 ISSUE ESTOPPEL – termination of employment – decision by Australian Industrial Relations Commission that termination not harsh, unjust or unreasonable – whether proceedings in the court for interpretation and enforcement of industrial instruments estopped ABUSE OF PROCESS – termination of employment – decision by Australian Industrial Relations Commission that termination not harsh, unjust or unreasonable – whether proceedings in the court for interpretation and enforcement of industrial instruments an abuse of process COURTS AND TRIBUNALS – termination of employment – decision by Australian Industrial Relations Commission that termination not harsh, unjust or unreasonable – whether proceedings in the court for interpretation and enforcement of industrial instruments estopped or an abuse of process INDUSTRIAL LAW – termination of employment – pursuit of alternative remedies by employee – role of Australian Industrial Relations Commission

Workplace Relations Act1996 (Cth) ss 170CA(2), 170CE, 170CG(3), 170CH, 170CI, 170CK, 170CM, 170CP, 170CR, 170HA, 170HB, 170HBA, 170HC, 170JD, 178, 179, 413, 413A Federal Court Rules O 20 r 2 Attorney-General for Trinidad & Tobago v Eriche [1893] AC 518 cited Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia v The Queen (1957) 95 CLR 529 discussed Blagojevch v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 98 FCR 45 distinguished Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 applied Bogaards v McMahon (1988) 80 ALR 342 cited Bramwell v Repatriation Commission (1998) 158 ALR 623 cited Cachia v Isaacs (1985) 3 NSWLR 366 cited Comcare v Grimes (1994) 50 FCR 60 cited Commonwealth v Sciacca (1988) 17 FCR 476 cited Connelly v Director of Public Prosecutions [1964] AC 1254 referred to Edwards v Giudice (1999) 94 FCR 561 distinguished Ex parte Amalgamated Engineering Union (Australian Section); Re Jackson (1937) SR (NSW) 13 applied Green v Hampshire County Council [1979] ICR 861 doubted Hatchett v Bowater Tutt Industries Pty Ltd (No 1) (1990) 26 FCR 561 considered Hunter v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police [1982] AC 529 referred to Jago v District Court (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23 cited Johnson v Gore Wood & Co [2002] 2 AC 1 referred to Kowalski v Trustee, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd Staff Superannuation Pty Ltd (2003) FCAFC 18 cited Lambidis v Commissioner of Police (1995) 37 NSWLR 320 cited Lilienthal v Migration Agents Registration Authority (2001) 65 ALD 437 cited Michaels v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCA 1130 cited Midland Metals Overseas Ltd v Comptroller-General of Customs (1991) 30 FCR 87 cited Miller v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2001) 108 FCR 192 referred to Miller v University of New South Wales (2002) 115 IR 404, [2002] FCA 882 reversed Miller v University of New South Wales [2002] FCA 882 referred to Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Daniele (1981) 61 FLR 354 considered Minister for Immigration & Ethnic Affairs v Kurtovic (1990) 21 FCR 193 considered Morales v Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs (1998) 82 FCR 374 cited National Union of Workers v Pacific Dunlop Tyres Pty Ltd (1992) 37 FCR 419 cited North West County Council v Dunn (1971) 126 CLR 247 referred to Precision Data Holdings Ltd v Wills (1991) 173 CLR 167 referred to R v East Sussex County Council [2002] 4 All ER 58, [2003] 1 WLR 348 referred to R v Kirby; Ex parte Boilermakers' Society of Australia (1956) 94 CLR 254 discussed Re Cram; Ex parte Newcastle Wallsend Coal Co Pty Ltd (1987) 163 CLR 140 applied Re Dingjan; Ex parte Wagner (1995) 183 CLR 323 referred to Re Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd; Ex parte Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union of Australia (1987) 163 CLR 656 referred to Reichel v Magrath (1889) 14 App Cas 665 considered Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Ltd (2001) 53 NSWLR 198 considered Rogers v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 251 cited Sande v Registrar, Supreme Court of Queensland (1996) 64 FCR 123 considered Somodaj v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd [1960] 61 SR (NSW) 305 cited The Administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea v Daera Guba (1973) 130 CLR 353 considered Thrasyvoulou v Secretary of State for the Environment [1990] 2 AC 273 cited Victoria v Commonwealth (1995) 187 CLR 416 cited Walton v Gardiner (1992) 177 CLR 378 considered Wiest v Director of Public Prosecutions (1988) 23 FCR 472 considered WJ & F Barnes Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1957) 96 CLR 294 cited GS Bower, AK Turner and KR Handley: The Doctrine of Res Judicata, 3rd ed (1996) A Hall, "Res Judicata and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal" (1994-1995) 2 AJAL 22 DAVID MILLER v UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES N 806 OF 2002 GRAY, RYAN and GYLES JJ SYDNEY 14 AUGUST 2003