Machin v Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [2010] FCA 969

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Machin v Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [2010] FCA 969

Citation: Machin v Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [2010] FCA 969

Appeal from: Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (decision dated 8 January 2010)

Parties: WENDY-JANE MACHIN v BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE STATE PUBLIC SECTOR SUPERANNUATION SCHEME

File number: VID 83 of 2010

Judge: DODDS-STREETON J

Date of judgment: 3 September 2010

Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – appeal from the decision of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal – majority affirmed respondent's decision rejecting applicant's claim for a disability benefit – Tribunal's functions and jurisdiction – whether majority misconstrued "total and permanent disablement" and "permanent and partial disablement" under the Superannuation (State Public Sector) Deed 1990 (Qld) – whether Tribunal accurately identified respondent's decision – whether majority determined if respondent's decision operated fairly and reasonably on applicant – failure of majority to consider applicant's eligibility for permanent disablement benefit – whether majority applied wrong or irrelevant criteria in considering eligibility for total and permanent disablement benefit – Appeal allowed.

Legislation: Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (Cth), ss 14, 17 and 46 Superannuation (State Public Sector) Act 1990 (Qld) Superannuation (State Public Sector) Deed 1990 (Qld), ss 4, 32, 46 and 49

Cases cited: Alcoa of Australia Retirement Plan Pty Ltd v Thompson (2002) 116 FCR 139 Briffa v Hay (1997) 75 FCR 428 Cameron v Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [2003] FCA 63 Cameron v Board of Trustees of the State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (2003) 130 FCR 122 Cavill Power Products Pty Ltd v Royle (1991) 42 IR 229 Chammas v Harwood Nominees Pty Ltd (1993) 7 ANZ Ins Cas 61-175 Constantinides v Du Pont Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (2002) 68 ALD 664; [2002] FCA 534 Cullinane v Mercer Benefit Nominees Ltd (2006) 152 FCR 1 Davis v Rio Tinto State Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (2002) 118 FCR 170 Flexiplan Australia Ltd v Pankhurst [2001] FCA 1535 Hest Australia v Sykley (2005) 147 FCR 248 Hornsby v Military Superannuation & Benefits Board of Trustees No 1 (2003) 126 FCR 484 Ivkovic v Australian Casualty & Life Limited (1994) 10 SR (WA) 325 Lykogiannis v Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 361 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259 Mohandoss v AMP Superannuation Ltd [2007] FCA 497 National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Ltd v Campbell (2000) 99 FCR 562 National Mutual Life Association of Australia Ltd v Jevtovic (1997) 217 ALR 316; [1997] FCA 359 Pope v Lawler (1996) 41 ALD 127 Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd v Crocker (2001) 48 ATR 359 Riley v National Mutual Life Association of Australasia [1986] 4 ANZ Ins Cas 60 684 TNT Skypak International (Aust) Pty Ltd v FCT (1988) 82 ALR 175 Vision Super Pty Ltd v Poulter (2006) 154 FCR 185 Webb v Teeling [2009] FCA 1094 White v Board of Trustees, State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme [1997] 2 QdR 659 Wyllie v National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Ltd (1997) 217 ALR 324