Larter v Health Secretary in respect of NSW Ambulance [2024] NSWIRComm 1030

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Larter v Health Secretary in respect of NSW Ambulance [2024] NSWIRComm 1030 Hearing dates: 15 March 2023 and 19 May 2023, final submissions 12 June 2024 Date of orders: 28 June 2024 Decision date: 28 June 2024 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Commissioner O'Sullivan Decision: Application is dismissed Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW – Termination – Statutory rights – Unfair dismissal – health worker unable to work due to COVID-19 vaccination requirements of Public Health Orders – failure to comply with COVID-19 vaccination requirements of determination made pursuant to the Health Services Act 1997 – whether dismissal harsh, unreasonable or unjust Legislation Cited: Health Services Act 1997 (NSW) Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 (NSW) Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adriano v Secretary, Ministry of Health in respect of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District [2022] NSWIRComm 1082 Alexander v Commissioner of Police [2009] NSWIRComm 3 Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 325 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Cromie v Health Secretary in respect of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District [2022] NSWIRComm 1064 Gareth Peck v Secretary, NSW Health in respect of the Hunter New England Local Health District [2022] NSWIRComm 1059 Griffin and others [2022] NSWIRComm 1027 Hollingsworth v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (1999) 47 NSWLR 151 Kassam v Hazzard [2021] NSWSC 1320 Kimber v Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care Ltd [2021] FWCFB 6015 Larter v Hazzard [2022] NSWCA 238 Munn & Others v The Health Secretary [2022] NSWIRComm 1044 Paul Robert Taggart and Bell Sports Australia [1999] NSWIRComm 408 Paul Robert Taggart and Bell Sports Australia [1999] NSWIRComm 408 RHG Mortgage Ltd v Ianni [2015] NSWCA 56 Rowland v Austar Coal Mine Pty Ltd [2010] FWA 8011 Secretary of the Ministry of Health v Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) [2022] NSWSC 1431 Starr v Commissioner of Police [2001] NSWIRComm 226 Western Suburbs District Ambulance Committee v Tipping: [1957] AR (NSW) 273 Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Edward Larter (Applicant)