Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia [2017] FCA 45

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia [2017] FCA 45 Appeal from: Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics) [2016] FCCA 1605 Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (No. 2) [2016] FCCA 1606

File number: NSD 1094 of 2016

Judge: BURLEY J

Date of judgment: 3 February 2017

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – whether deed of agreement is binding – whether applicant was under a special disability or economic duress – whether applicant was a false witness, was willing to manufacture evidence and exaggerated his state of mind COSTS – whether costs order under Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 570 is appropriate – whether institution and conduct of proceedings was vexatious and without reasonable cause PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether application for leave to appeal necessary where orders of primary judge dispositive of substantive rights of the parties – appeal by way of rehearing – position of appellate court in deciding questions of fact and credibility

Legislation: Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 340, 570 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 24 Work, Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) s 19

Cases cited: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited v Karam [2005] NSWCA 344; (2005) 64 NSWLR 149 Blomley v Ryan [1956] HCA 81; (1956) 99 CLR 362 CDJ v VAJ [1998] HCA 67; (1998) 197 CLR 172 Crescendo Management Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1988) 19 NSWLR 40 Cubillo v Commonwealth of Australia [2001] FCA 1213; (2001) 112 FCR 455 Biogen Inc v Medeva PLC [1996] UKHL 18; [1997] RPC 1 Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio [1983] HCA 14; (1983) 151 CLR 447 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited [2013] HCA 25; (2013) 250 CLR 392 Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics) [2015] FCCA 2094 Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics) [2016] FCCA 1605 Nalbandian v Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (No. 2) [2016] FCCA 1606 Trustee for the MTGI Trust v Johnston (No 2) [2016] FCAFC 190 Warren v Coombes [1979] HCA 9; (1979) 142 CLR 531 Western Australia v Ward [2002] HCA 28; (2002) 213 CLR 1