Metropolitan Health Service Board v Australian Nursing Federation [2000] FCA 784

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Metropolitan Health Service Board v Australian Nursing Federation

[2000] FCA 784

INDUSTRIAL LAW – award conditions – underpayment – agreement to accept lesser rates in consideration of no transfer within employment – whether employees and Union estopped from proceeding for breach of award conditions – whether doctrines of estoppel and waiver are available – abuse of process – exercise of magistrate's discretion in awarding repayment to employees.

Hospitals Act 1927 (WA) s 15(1), s 8 Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985 (WA) Hospital and Health Services Act 1927 s 16(1) Industrial Relations Act 1988 Workplace Relations Act 1996 s 178 Gapes v Commercial Bank of Australia (1979) 38 FLR 431 cited Treharn v Geo McEwin & Son Pty Ltd (1982) 44 ALR 543 cited Ex parte McLean (1930) 43 CLR 472 cited Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 discussed Josephenson v Walker (1914) 18 CLR 691 discussed True v Amalgamated Collieries of WA Ltd [1940] AC 537 cited Beckford Nominees Pty Ltd v Shell Co of Australia Ltd (1986) 73 ALR 373 cited Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 discussed Duncan v Ellis (1916) 21 CLR 376 cited Walsh v Commercial Travellers Association of Victoria (1940) VLR 259 discussed Kidd v Savage River Mines (1984) 6 FCR 398 followed Jackson and Wilson v Monadelphous Engineering Associates Pty Ltd (unrep IRCA 17.10.97) discussed Horsman v Commissioner of Main Roads (unrep 14/9/98 French J) cited Horsman v Commissioner of Main Roads [1999] FCA 1733 distinguished Metropolitan Health Services Board v Australian Nursing Federation (1999) 94 FCR 132 cited Spencer, Bower and Turner, The Law Relating to Estoppel by Representation 3rd Edition, Butterworths (1977) at par 142 METROPOLITAN HEALTH SERVICE BOARD v AUSTRALIAN NURSING FEDERATION W 14 of 1999 FRENCH, LEE AND CARR JJ 9 JUNE 2000 PERTH