Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Zisopoulos [2020] NSWCA 236

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Zisopoulos [2020] NSWCA 236 Hearing dates: 3 September 2020 Date of orders: 28 September 2020 Decision date: 28 September 2020 Before: Bell P at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [95]; Wright J at [100] Decision: Summons dismissed with costs Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review of decisions of Industrial Relations Commission relating to removal of officer from NSW Police Force – whether IRC erred in law and failed to exercise jurisdiction whilst undertaking statutory task of review under s 181E of the Police Act 1990 (NSW) – whether IRC misapplied s 181F(2) concerning onus of proof – legal, tactical and evidential burdens of proof considered – where decision was not affected by jurisdictional error. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – Industrial Relations Commission – whether the removal of an officer from the NSW Police Force was "harsh, unreasonable or unjust" – whether IRC erred in law and failed to exercise jurisdiction whilst undertaking statutory task of review under s 181E of the Police Act 1990 (NSW) – whether IRC misapplied s 181F(2) concerning onus of proof – legal, tactical and evidential burdens of proof considered. POLICE – officer removed from NSW Police Force pursuant to s 181D(1) of the Police Act 1990 (NSW) for alleged voluntary consumption of illicit drugs –officer successfully reviewed dismissal pursuant to s 181E of the Police Act – whether IRC misapplied s 181F(2) concerning onus of proof – legal, tactical and evidential burdens of proof considered. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – construction of s 181F(2) of the Police Act 1990 (NSW) – whether the removal of an officer from the NSW Police Force was "harsh, unreasonable or unjust". Legislation Cited: Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) s 84(1) Police Act 1990 (NSW) ss 80(3), 181D, 181E, 181F, 181G, Pt 9 Div 1C, Pt 10A Police Legislation Further Amendment Act 1996 (NSW) Police Service Act 1990 (NSW) s 181B Police Service Amendment Act 1997 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amoco Oil Co. v Parpada Shipping Co. Ltd (The "George S.") [1989] 1 Lloyd's Law Reports 369 Anchor Products Ltd v Hedges (1966) 115 CLR 493; [1966] HCA 70 Batterham v QSR Limited (2006) 225 CLR 237; [2006] HCA 23 Berry v CCL Secure Pty Ltd (2020) 94 ALJR 715; [2020] HCA 27 Bigg v New South Wales Police Service (1998) 80 IR 434 Brady (Inspector of Taxes) v Group Lotus Car Cos plc [1987] 2 All ER 674 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410; [1995] HCA 24 Commissioner of Police for New South Wales v Eaton (2013) 252 CLR 1; [2013] HCA 2 Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Zisopoulos [2020] NSWSC 622 Cottle v NSW Commissioner of Police; Police Association of New South Wales v Commissioner of Police (NSW Police Force) [2020] NSWCA 159 Gould v Vaggelas (1985) 157 CLR 215; [1985] HCA 75 Henderson v State of Queensland (2014) 255 CLR 1; [2014] HCA 52 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Pochi (1980) 44 FLR 41; [1980] FCA 85 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1996) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Momcilovic v R (2011) 245 CLR 1; [2011] HCA 34 Oswald v New South Wales Police Service (1999) 90 IR 42 Polyaire Pty Ltd v K-Aire Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 287; [2005] HCA 32 Purkess v Crittenden (1965) 114 CLR 164; [1965] HCA 34 R v LK (2010) 241 CLR 177; [2010] HCA 17 Starr v Commissioner of Police [2001] NSWIRComm 226 Strong v Woolworths Ltd (2012) 246 CLR 182; [2012] HCA 5 Tredinnick v Commissioner of Police [2016] NSWIRComm 14 Victoria v Commonwealth ("Payroll Tax case") (1971) 122 CLR 353; [1971] HCA 16 Wang v Crestell Industries Pty Ltd (1997) 71 IR 454 Texts Cited: C R Williams, "Burdens and Standards in Civil Litigation" (2003) 25 Syd Law Review 165 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force (Appellant) George Zisopoulos (First Respondent) Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (Second Respondent) (Submitting Appearance) Representation: Counsel: