Leahey v CSG Business Solutions (Aus) Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1098

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Leahey v CSG Business Solutions (Aus) Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1098 File number: NSD 1986 of 2016

Judge: LEE J

Date of judgment: 18 September 2017

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – workplace rights – whether employment terminated because employee had a workplace right or exercised a workplace right – termination for non-prohibited reason established CONTRACTS – employment contract – principles of construction – contract provided for remuneration measured by reference to key performance indicators – whether obligation on employer to set key performance indicators in advance of measurement of remuneration – obligation upon employer to allow the employee the benefit of the employment contract – failure to set key performance measures in a timely manner – breach of contract shown DAMAGES – employment contract – breach – failure of employer to set key performance indicators in a timely manner – loss of commercial opportunity or chance – loss of opportunity to obtain the benefit of contractual remuneration

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 319 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), ss 136, 140(1), 140(2) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), ss 12, 119, 340, 340(1)(a)(i), 340(1)(a)(ii), 341(1), 341(1)(c), 341(1)(c)(ii), 342(1), 360, 361, 361(1), 545(1), 545(2)(b), 570 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 37P(2) Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW), ss 12, 12(2)(b)

Cases cited: Agricultural & Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner [2008] HCA 57; (2008) 238 CLR 570 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall [2017] FCA 274 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (No 3) [2002] FCA 1294; (2002) ATPR 41-901 Avenia v Railway & Transport Health Fund Ltd [2017] FCA 859 Bartlett v Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (No 2) [2014] NSWCA 30; (2014) 92 NSWLR 639 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay [2012] HCA 32; (2012) 248 CLR 500 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings [1977] UKPCHCA 1; (1977) 180 CLR 266 Briginshaw v Briginshaw [1938] HCA 34; (1938) 60 CLR 336 Butt v M'Donald (1896) 7 QLJ 68 Chaplin v Hicks [1911] 2 KB 786 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Barker [2014] HCA 32; (2014) 253 CLR 169 Commonwealth v Amann Aviation Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 54; (1991) 174 CLR 64 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2007] FCAFC 132; (2007) 162 FCR 466 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Anglo Coal (Dawson Services) Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 157; (2015) 238 FCR 273 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Clermont Coal Pty Limited [2015] FCA 1014; (2015) 253 IR 166 Darlington Futures Limited v Delco Australia Pty Limited [1986] HCA 82; (1986) 161 CLR 500 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd [1978] HCA 12; (1978) 138 CLR 423 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd [2017] HCA 12; (2017) 91 ALJR 486 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd [2014] HCA 7; (2014) 251 CLR 640 Elliott v Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1084; (2001) 129 IR 251 General Motors-Holden's Pty Ltd v Bowling (1976) 12 ALR 605; (1977) 51 ALJR 235 In Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited (S99/2015; S102/2015) (2015) 256 CLR 104 Malec v J. C. Hutton Pty Ltd [1990] HCA 20; (1990) 169 CLR 638 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 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Limited v Wright Prospecting Pty Limited [2015] HCA 37; (2015) 256 CLR 104 Park v Brothers [2005] HCA 73; (2005) 80 ALJR 317 Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd [2001] HCA 45; (2001) 205 CLR 126 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gama [2008] FCAFC 69; (2008) 167 FCR 537 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd [1979] HCA 51; (1979) 144 CLR 596 Sellars v Adelaide Petroleum NL [1994] HCA 4; (1994) 179 CLR 332 Shea v TRUenergy Services Pty Ltd (No 6) [2014] FCA 271; (2014) 314 ALR 436 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd v Lindley [2010] NSWCA 357 Society of Lloyd's v Clementson [1995] CLC 117 University of Western Australia v Gray [2009] FCAFC 116; (2009) 179 FCR 346 Allsop J, "Conscience, Fair-dealing and Commerce – Parliaments and the Courts" (FCA) [2015] Federal Judicial Scholarship 17 Carter, J W, Peden, E and Tolhurst, G J, Contract Law in Australia (5th ed, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2007) Waddams, S M, "Principles of Compensation" in P Finn (ed), Essays on Damages (Law Book Co, 1992)