Freeman v South Western Sydney Local Health District [2022] NSWSC 1642

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Freeman v South Western Sydney Local Health District [2022] NSWSC 1642 Hearing dates: 23 March 2022 Date of orders: 02 December 2022 Decision date: 02 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Judgment for the first defendant; (2) Proceedings dismissed; (3) The plaintiff shall pay the first defendant's costs of and incidental to the proceedings. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review of administrative tribunal deciding appeal against termination of a VMO Contract, being independent contract – alleged denial of procedural fairness – issues opened up – reasonable opportunity to prepare and present case – issues raising in termination letter – also raised in affidavits – no objection or adjournment sought when put in cross-examination – alleged misunderstanding of nature of appeal – no error disclosed – no irrelevant considerations and all mandatory considerations utilised – while some may consider decision unfair in light of capacity of VMO to act in accordance with own judgment, determination of breakdown in confidence not "legally unreasonable" Legislation Cited: Health Services Act 1997 (NSW), ss 77,78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 89, 96, 105, 106, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112 Public Hospitals Act 1929 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596; [1990] HCA 57 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1; [1990] HCA 21 Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 325; [2001] NSWIRComm 117 Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian industrial Relations Commission (2000) 203 CLR 194; [2000] HCA 47 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic (1993) 43 FCR 280; [1993] FCA 456 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd (2002) 96 ALJR 89; [2022] HCA 1 Freeman v Sydney Local Health District [2021] NSWSC 423 Lacey v Attorney-General (Qld) (2011) 242 CLR 573; [2011] HCA 10 Macksville & District Hospital v Mayze (1987) 10 NSWLR 708 Malek Fahd Islamic School Limited v Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning [2022] NSWSC 1176 Minister For Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Wu Shan Liang (1986) 185 CLR 259; [1996] HCA 6 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611; [1999] HCA 21 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Re Building Workers' Industrial Union; Ex parte Gallagher (1988) 62 ALJR 81 at 84; [1988] HCA 4 Sullivan v Department of Transport (1978) 20 ALR 323; [1978] FCA 323 Victorian Stevedoring and General Contracting Co Pty Ltd and Meakes v Dignan (1931) 46 CLR 73; [1931] HCA 34 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Freeman (Plaintiff) South Western Sydney Local Health District (First Defendant) The New South Wales Health Committee of Review (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Glissan QC / D Nagle / G Diggins (Plaintiff) H Younan SC / A Britt (First Defendant) Submitting Appearance (Second Defendant)