John Holland Pty Ltd v Bartlett [2023] FCA 1030

Federal Court of Australia

John Holland Pty Ltd v Bartlett [2023] FCA 1030 File number(s): SAD 100 of 2022

Judgment of: O'SULLIVAN J

Date of judgment: 29 August 2023

Catchwords: WORKERS COMPENSATION – appeal from a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal – where the Tribunal determined that the respondent was entitled to payment of compensation calculated under s 19 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth) (SRC Act) – process of making a claim for compensation under the SRC Act – statutory construction of s 54 of the SRC Act – whether an employee is to provide a medical certificate and claim form each time payment of compensation is sought under s 19 of the SRC Act – whether the Tribunal failed to make findings with respect to whether the respondent had an incapacity to engage in work at the same level – where the Tribunal took into account an irrelevant consideration and made an error of law – where the Tribunal failed to provide adequate reasons – matter remitted to the Tribunal to be determined according to law – appeal allowed

Legislation: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth), ss 43(2) & (2B) Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth), ss 4, 4(8)-(9), 5, 5A, 14, 16, 19, 19(1) & (2)-(14), 20, 21, 21A, 22, 24, 29, 29A, 42C, 53, 54, 54(1), (2) & (5), 55(a), (b) & (c), 57, 57(1)-(2), 58, 69(a), 72(a), 108, 108A & C

Cases cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) [2009] HCA 41; (2009) 239 CLR 27 Australian Conservation Foundation Inc v Forestry Commission of Tasmania (1988) 19 FCR 127 Australian Postal Corporation v Oudyn [2003] FCA 318 Brennan v Comcare (1994) 50 FCR 555 Canute v Comcare [2006] HCA 47; (2006) 226 CLR 535 Comcare Australia v Rowe [2002] FCA 1034 Comcare v Lofts [2013] FCA 1197; (2013) 217 FCR 220 Comcare v ZZRP [2019] FCA 952 Craig v The State of South Australia [1995] HCA 58, (1995) 184 CLR 163 Gye v McIntyre [1991] HCA 60; (1991) 171 CLR 609 Haritos v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2015] FCAFC 92; (2015) 233 FCR 315 Hossain v Minister for Immigration [2018] HCA 34, (2018) 264 CLR 123 Lees v Comcare [1999] FCA 753; (1999) 29 AAR 350 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA & Anor [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf [2001] HCA 30; (2001) 206 CLR 323 Prain v Comcare [2017] FCAFC 143; (2017) 256 FCR 65 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Repatriation Commission v Hawkins (1993) 45 FCR 205 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] HCA 34; (2017) 262 CLR 362 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Kotevski (2013) 209 FCR 558; [2013] FCA 27 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council (2001) 202 CLR 439; [2001] HCA 12 Woodhouse v Comcare [2021] FCAFC 95; (2021) 285 FCR 14