Chrystal v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force (No 2) [2023] NSWIRComm 1108

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Chrystal v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force (No 2) [2023] NSWIRComm 1108 Hearing dates: 26-27 June 2023 Date of orders: 26 October 2023 Decision date: 26 October 2023 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Commissioner McDonald Decision: Application dismissed. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW – Police -Removal – Failure to comply with direction requiring vaccination against COVID-19 – Lawful Direction – Direction does not need to be reasonable – Whether direction complied with by not performing duties – Late raising of arguments by Applicant contrary to procedure set out in s 181F(1) – Whether direction contravened no extra claims clause in Police Award – Validity of delegation of discretion to grant exemption from requirement to be vaccinated – Reasonableness of denial of request for exemption – Conduct contrary to s 7 of Police Act 1990 (NSW), reg 8 of Police Regulation 2015 (NSW), s 28 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and NSW Police Force Code of Conduct and Ethics – Applicant went on recreation leave the day after deadline for first dose of vaccine and a week later, until date of removal, was certified as unfit to work – Applicant has not discharged onus – Application dismissed Legislation Cited: Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) s 163, 357 and 359 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 3 and 49 Police Act 1990 (NSW), ss 6, 7, 31, 181D, 181E,181F,181G and 201 Police Regulation 2015 (NSW), reg 8 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), s 28 Cases Cited: Benic v State of New South Wales [2010] NSWSC 1039 Botros v Commissioner of Police [2023] NSWIRComm 1074 Bowes v Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1049 CFMMEU v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd [2021] FWCFB 6059; 310 IR 399 Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Zisopoulos [2020] NSWCA 236; 299 IR 314 Denshire v Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1048 Fire Brigade Employees' Union of New South Wales v Commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales (PAD Program) [2021] NSWIRComm 1041 Fire Brigade Employees' Union of New South Wales v Industrial Relations Secretary of NSW on behalf of Fire and Rescue NSW (Covid-19 Vaccination Dispute) [2023] NSWIRComm 1004; 322 IR 33 Ford v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1014 Kassam v Hazzard [2021] NSWCA 299; 106 NSWLR 520 Kassam v Hazzard [2021] NSWSC 1320; 393 ALR 664 Lamarre-Condon v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1021 Murdock v Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] FCA 569 Nowlan v Marson Transport Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 346; 53 NSWLR 116 R v Darling Island Stevedoring and Lighterage Co Ltd; Ex parte Halliday and Sullivan [1938] HCA 44; 60 CLR 601 Roberts v Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1039 Sabri v Health Secretary in respect of South Western Sydney Local Health District [2023] NSWIRComm 1055 Southcombe v Commissioner of Police [2022] NSWIRComm 1112 Southcott v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1075 Starr v Commissioner of Police [2001] NSWIRComm 226 Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited v Marmara [2014] FCAFC 84; 222 FCR 152 Tredinnick v Commissioner of Police [2016] NSWIRComm 14 Welch v Commissioner of Police [2023] NSWIRComm 1002 White v Overland [2001] FCA 1333; 67 ALD 731 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Deborah Lee Chrystal (Applicant) Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Flaherty (Applicant) M Watts (Respondent) Solicitors: Ashley, Francina, Leonard & Associates (Applicant) Makinson d'Apice Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2022/0097008 Publication restriction: Nil