Azzi v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 1028

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Azzi v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 1028 Hearing dates: 15-16 August 2023 Decision date: 29 August 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson JA Decision: Proceedings 2022/303883: (1) Dismiss the further amended first summons filed 16 August 2023. (2) Order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. Proceedings 2023/66999: (1) Dismiss the further amended second summons filed 16 August 2023. (2) Order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — termination of employment for failure to follow direction — whether this amounted to "misconduct" — jurisdictional error — whether employee denied procedural fairness — whether decision to terminate employment was delegated to an unauthorised delegate — Carltona principle — whether directions were lawful and reasonable — legal unreasonableness Legislation Cited: Anti-Discrimination Act 1997 (NSW), s 25 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), Part 6 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 43 Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014 (NSW), rr 4, 38, 39, 40, 42 Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (NSW), ss 7, 26, 27, 41, 58, 69 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2014] NSWCA 122 Appellant S395/2002 v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2003) 216 CLR 473; [2003] HCA 71 Azzi v State of New South Wales [2023] NSWSC 659 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Brettingham-Moore v St Leonards Municipality (1969) 121 CLR 509; [1969] HCA 40 Carltona Ltd v Commissioners of Works [1943] 2 All ER 560 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v EFX17 (2021) 271 CLR 112; [2021] HCA 9 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZIAI [2009] HCA 39; (2009) 259 ALR 429 O'Reilly v Commissioners of State Bank of Victoria (1982) 153 CLR 1; [1983] HCA 47 Parisienne Basket Shoes Ltd v Whyte (1938) 59 CLR 369; [1938] HCA 7 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; ex parte S20/2002 [2003] HCA 30; (2003) 77 ALJR 1165 Snedden v Minister for Justice for the Commonwealth (2014) 230 FCR 82; [2014] FCAFC 156 Stanley v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] HCA 3; (2023) 407 ALR 222 Taylor v Public Service Board (New South Wales) (1976) 137 CLR 208; [1976] HCA 36 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Maroun (Mark) Azzi (Plaintiff) State of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Francois (Plaintiff) O Jones / R L Gall (Defendant)