Avenia v Railway & Transport Health Fund Ltd [2017] FCA 859

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Avenia v Railway & Transport Health Fund Ltd [2017] FCA 859 File number: NSD 334 of 2017

Judge: LEE J

Date of judgment: 4 August 2017

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – contract of employment – right to direct employee not to work so as to provide for a temporary "suspension" pending a preliminary investigation – consideration of whether there is an implied duty to undertake investigative and disciplinary processes fairly – whether obligation to exercise contractual powers in accordance with principles of procedural fairness CONTRACTS – principles of construction – entitlement to payment under an asset sale agreement – where two instruments alleged to be part of one transaction – implied duty of co-operation in employment contract – relationship with terms allegedly implied as a matter of fact into the contract CONTRACTS – whether summary dismissal and termination of employment contract lawful

Legislation: Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 (Cth), s 32 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 131(2)(h), 160 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), ss 360, 361, 570, 789FD(1) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 53A Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), s 19(1)

Cases cited: Adami v Maison De Luxe Limited [1924] HCA 45; (1924) 35 CLR 143 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall [2017] FCA 274 Bartlett v Australia and New Zealand Banking Corporation [2016] NSWCA 30; (2016) NSWLR 639 Bartucciotto v Euro Printing Company Pty Ltd, unreported, IRCA 72/96, 21 February 1996 Beaufort Developments (NI) Ltd v Gilbert-ASH NI Ltd [1999] 1 AC 266 Blyth Chemicals v Bushnell (1933) 49 CLR 66 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings [1977] UKPCHCA 1; (1977) 180 CLR 266 Braganza v BP Shipping Ltd [2015] UKSC 17; [2015] 1 WLR 1661 Bruce v AWB Ltd [2000] FCA 594; (2000) 100 IR 129 Byrnes v Kendle [2011] HCA 26; (2011) 243 CLR 253 Charltons CJC Pty Ltd v Fitzgerald [2013] NSWSC 350 Collier v Sunday Referee Publishing Company Ltd [1940] 2 KB 647 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Barker [2014] HCA 32; (2014) 253 CLR 169 Council of the City of Sydney v Goldspar Australia Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 472; (2006) 230 ALR 437 Dissanayake v State Transit Authority [2016] NSWIRComm 10 Downe v Sydney West Area Health Service (No 2) [2008] NSWSC 159; (2008) 71 NSWLR 633 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12; (2017) 91 ALJR 486 EDWF Holdings 1 Pty Ltd v EDWF Holdings 2 Pty Ltd [2010] WASCA 78; (2010) 41 WAR 23 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640 Fishlock v The Campaign Palace Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 531; (2013) 234 IR 1 Goldman Sachs JBWere Services Pty Ltd v Nikolich [2007] FCAFC 120; (2007) 163 FCR 62 Gooley v Westpac Banking Corporation [1995] IRCA 658; (1995) 59 IR 262 Hannover Life re Australasia Limited v Sayseng [2005] NSWCA 214; (2005) ANZ Ins Cas 90-123 Hoyt's Pty Ltd v Spencer [1919] HCA 64; (1919) 27 CLR 133 Jupiter General Insurance Co Ltd v Shroff [1937] 3 All ER 67 Kioa v West [1985] HCA 81; (1985) 159 CLR 550 Koompahtoo Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 61; (2007) 233 CLR 115 Laurinda Pty Ltd v Capalaba Park Shopping Centre Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 23; (1989) 166 CLR 623 Laws v London Chronicle (Indicator Newspapers) Ltd [1959] 2 All ER 285 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd [2000] HCA 65; (2000) 203 CLR 579 McDonald v Parnell Laboratories (Aust) (No 2) [2007] FCA 2086; (2007) 164 FCR 591 Melbourne Stadiums Ltd v Sautner [2015] FCAFC 20; (2015) 229 FCR 221 Mezey v South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust [2007] EWCA Civ 106; [2007] IRLR 244 Mineralogy Pty Ltd v Sino Iron Pty Ltd (No 6) [2015] FCA 825; (2015) 329 ALR 1 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; (2013) 249 CLR 332 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited [2015] HCA 37; (2015) 256 CLR 104 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Naidu [2007] NSWCA 377; (2007) 71 NSWLR 471 North v Television Corporation Limited (1976) 11 ALR 599 Park v Brothers [2005] HCA 73; (2005) 80 ALJR 317 Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd [2001] HCA 45; (2001) 205 CLR 126 Prestige Lifting Services Pty Ltd v Williams [2015] FCA 1063; (2015) 333 ALR 674 Rankin v Marine Power International Pty Ltd [2001] VSC 150; (2001) 107 IR 117 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Indigenous Affairs; Ex parte Lam [2003] HCA 6; (2003) 214 CLR 1 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd [1979] HCA 51; (1979) 144 CLR 596 Service Station Association Ltd v Berg Bennett & Associates Pty Ltd [1993] FCA 638; (1993) 45 FCR 84 Society of Lloyd's v Clementson [1995] CLC 117 Sutcliffe v General Motors-Holden's Automotive Ltd [1998] FCA 88; 80 IR 142 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 52; (2004) 219 CLR 165 University of Western Australia v Gray [2009] FCAFC 116; (2009) 179 FCR 346 Waddell v Mathematics.com.au Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 142 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Limited [1998] NSWIRComm 200; (1998) 82 IR 80 XY v WA Country Health Service [2016] WASC 202 Allsop CJ, "Conscience, fair-dealing and commerce - parliaments and the courts" (FCA) [2015] Federal Judicial Scholarship 17 Hooley R, "Controlling Contractual Discretion" (2013) 72(1) Cambridge Law Journal 65 Lewison K and Hughes D, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia (Lawbook Co, 2012) Sappideen C, O'Grady PM, Riley J, Macken's Law of Employment (8th ed, Lawbook Co, 2016)