Edwards v Western NSW Local Health District [2024] NSWCATAD 121

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Edwards v Western NSW Local Health District [2024] NSWCATAD 121 Hearing dates: 16 April 2024 Date of orders: 24 April 2024 Decision date: 24 April 2024 Jurisdiction: Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division Before: P Roney KC, Senior Member M Maher, General Member Decision: The Applicant's complaints of racial discrimination and racial vilification are dismissed. Catchwords: HUMAN RIGHTS-ANTI-DISCRIMINATION – RACE DISCRIMINATION – where comments made about applicant's niece's newborn indigenous child – where applicant was present to hear the infant referred to as "little monkey" or "cheeky little monkey" in a hospital birthing suite by a hospital staff member - whether that was racial discrimination - ANTI-DISCRIMINATION – RACIAL VILIFICATION - whether a newborn was publicly called a derogatory name in the presence of a family member– public act – communication to the public – racially based insults directed to a party in a hospital birthing ward-– incite serious contempt and severe ridicule. HUMAN RIGHTS – remedies compensation– apology – public statement Legislation Cited: Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 Cases Cited: Wotton v Queensland [No 5] (2016) 352 ALR 146 R v Ashley [1991] NTSC 19; (1991) 77 NTR 27 Barry v Futter [2011] NSWADT 205 Wolf v Secretary, Department of Education [2023] NSWCATAD 202 Riley v State of NSW (Department of Education) [2019] NSWCATAD 223 Sunol v Collier (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 44 Comensoli v Passas [2019] NSWCATAD 155, Lamb v Campbell [2021] NSWCATAD 103, Ekermawi v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2019] NSWCATAD 79, Malenha v Sullivan [2017] NSWCATAD 222. Burns v Dye [2002] NSWADT 32 Veloskey v Karagiannakis [2002] NSWADTAP 18 Burns v Cunningham [2011] NSWADT 240 Margan v Manias [2015] NSWCA 388 Kane v Church of Jesus Christ Christian Aryan Nations (No 3) (1992) 18 CHHR 268 Macedonian Teachers' Association, Macedonian Teachers' Association of Victoria Inc v Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1998) 91 FCR 8 Qantas Airways Ltd v Gama (2008) 167 FCR 537 Burns v Dye [2002] NSW ADT 32. Huenerberg v Murray [2023] QCAT 175 Deen v Lamb [2001] QADT 20 Wilson & McCollum v Lawson & Anor [2008] QADT 27 Peters v Constance, [2005] QADT 9 Menzies & Ors v Owen, [2008] QADT 20 Jones v Trad (2013) 86 NSWLR 241 Lamb v Campbell [2021] NSWCATAD 103 Campbell v Kirstenfeldt [2008] FMCA 1356 Kazak v John Fairfax Publications Limited [2000] NSWADT 77 Ekermawi v Jones (No 3) [2014] NSWCATAD 58 Kazak v John Fairfax Publications Limited [2000] NSWADT 77 Texts Cited: None cited Category: Principal judgment Parties: Janice Edwards (Applicant) Western NSW Local Health District (Respondent) Representation: Applicant (Self-Represented) Crown Solicitor (Respondent) File Number(s): 2023/00429924 Publication restriction: Nil