Commissioner of Police v Fordyce [2024] NSWIRComm 1013

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Commissioner of Police v Fordyce [2024] NSWIRComm 1013 Hearing dates: 14 February 2024 Date of orders: 29 February 2024 Decision date: 29 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Chief Commissioner Constant, Commissioner Sloan and Commissioner Webster Decision: (1) Leave to appeal is granted. (2) The appeal is upheld. (3) The decision of Commissioner O'Sullivan of 4 August 2023, that the order made by the Police Commissioner, through her delegate, on 27 October 2021 under s 173(2) of the Police Act 1990 be revoked, is quashed. (4) The file in matter 2021/00326768 will be returned to Commissioner O'Sullivan for determination in accordance with this decision. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW – Industrial Relations Commission – Appeals – appeal against decision revoking order made under s 173 of the Police Act 1990 – whether Commissioner at first instance misapprehended or misapplied onus of proof under Police Act – whether Commissioner failed to conduct fresh and independent review – whether Commissioner erred in finding that the alleged misconduct was implausible – whether Commissioner failed to have regard to the public interest in the manner required by the Police Act – whether the Commissioner erred in finding that the public interest requires the proper investigation of disciplinary issues Legislation Cited: Industrial Relations Act 1996 Ch 2 Pt 6, ss 84, 163, 188, 189, 191 Police Act 1990 s 80, Pt 9 Div 1A, ss 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, Pt 9 Div 1C, ss 181D, 181E, 181F, 181G Cases Cited: Ainger v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] NSWCA 424 Beale v Government Insurance Office of NSW (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Bradley George Hosemans v Commissioner of Police (2004) 138 IR 159; [2004] NSWIRComm 253 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Commissioner of Police v Collins (2008) 180 IR 191; [2008] NSWIRComm 162 Commissioner of Police v Eaton (2013) 252 CLR 1; [2013] HCA 2 Commissioner of Police v Evans (2006) 153 IR 144; [2006] NSWIRComm 170 Commissioner of Police v Morris [2017] NSWIRComm 1010 Commissioner of Police v Platts [2021] NSWIRComm 1021 Commissioner of Police v Reid-Frost (2010) 192 IR 363; [2010] NSWIRComm 2 Commissioner of Police v Smith [2010] NSWIRComm 162 Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Force v Zisopoulos (2020) 299 IR 314; [2020] NSWCA 236 Elura Mine Enterprise (Consent) Award 2001 [2003] NSWIRComm 218 Fordyce v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1077 Gregory v Qantas Airways Ltd (2016) 241 FCR 72; [2016] FCAFC 7 Hogan v Hinch (2011) 243 CLR 506; [2011] HCA 4 Hosemans v Commissioner of Police (No 4) (2005) 150 IR 263; [2005] NSWIRComm 409 IMM v The Queen (2016) 257 CLR 300; [2016] HCA 14 Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd v National Union of Workers, New South Wales [2003] NSWIRComm 167 KU Children's Services (Other Than Teachers) (State) Award 1998 [2000] NSWIRComm 94 Lawrance v Commissioner of Police (2010) 199 IR 139; [2010] NSWIRComm 149 McGhee v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2020) 200 IR 22; [2010] NSWIRComm 165 Morris v Commissioner of Police [2016] NSWIRComm 1034 NSW Ministry of Health v Health Services Union New South Wales and anor (No. 2) [2019] NSWIRComm 1081 O'Sullivan v Farrer (1989) 168 CLR 210 Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of New South Wales v Roads and Maritime Services [2015] NSWIRComm 16 Redmond v Director General, NSW Department of Health, on behalf of the Ambulance Service of New South Wales [2012] NSWIRComm 147 Rodney Lockley v Commissioner of Police [2019] NSWIRComm 1016 Secretary of the Ministry of Health v The New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association (2022) 320 IR 249; [2022] NSWSC 1178 Sinclair v Maryborough Mining Warden (1975) 132 CLR 473 Smith v New South Wales Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 256 Stefan Elias v Commissioner of Police [2019] NSWIRComm 1026 Tredinnick v Commissioner of Police [2016] NSWIRComm 14 Writer v Commissioner of Police (No 2) [2021] NSWIRComm 1023 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Commissioner of Police (Appellant) Daniel Fordyce (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Seck / R Coffey (Appellant) M Gibian SC / D Nagle (Respondent) Solicitors: Makinson D'Apice Lawyers (Appellant) Nikolovski Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2023/00271335 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales Citation: Fordyce v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2023] NSWIRComm 1077 Date of Decision: 4 August 2023 Before: Commissioner O'Sullivan File Number(s): 2021/00326768