Haddad v The GEO Group Australia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 135

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Haddad v The GEO Group Australia Pty Ltd [2024] NSWCA 135 Hearing dates: 26 April 2024 Date of orders: 5 June 2024 Decision date: 05 June 2024 Before: Kirk JA at [1]; Stern JA at [2]; Griffiths AJA at [3] Decision: The appeal is dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: WORKERS COMPENSATION – Disease injury – Disease contracted by a gradual process – Deemed date of injury – where original claim for compensation sought both weekly payments under s 33 and medical treatment expenses under s 60 of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) (1987 Act) – where claim for weekly payments was subsequently withdrawn – whether the operation of s 15(1)(a)(i) and (ii) of the 1987 Act to deem the date of injury depends on whether there is an incapacity for work and a consequential entitlement to claim compensation for economic loss which has resulted from the injury in circumstances where the claim for compensation does not depend upon demonstrating incapacity – whether the limitation period in s 261 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) is inapplicable in the particular circumstances of this case because the appellant abandoned his s 33 claim Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 33 Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act 1906 (NSW) Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth) s 14 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 2A, 3(6), 4, 9, 9AA(5), 15, 16, 25, 32A, 33, 34, 44C (repealed), 60, 66, 67 (repealed), Pt 3 Div 2 Subdiv 2, Sch 3 cll 2, 4 and 5, Sch 6 Pt 18C Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2001 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) ss 4, 60, 74A, 91A, 93(1), 250(1), 252, 254, 259(1) 260(1), 261, 353, Ch 7 Cases Cited: ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd v Goudappel (2014) 254 CLR 1; [2014] HCA 18 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Alto Ford Pty Ltd v Antaw [1999] NSWCA 234 BBY v The GEO Group Australia Pty Ltd [2023] NSWPICPD 60 Carr v Western Australia (2007) 232 CLR 138; [2007] HCA 47 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd (2012) 250 CLR 503; [2012] HCA 55 Gales v Lovett, McCracken & Bray [2008] NSWCA 171 GIO Workers Compensation (NSW) Ltd v GIO General Ltd (1995) 12 NSWCCR 187 Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd v Mexon (2018) 98 NSWLR 526; [2018] NSWCA 178 Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd v Thoroughgood [2014] NSWCA 166 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 P&O Berkeley Challenge Pty Ltd v Alfonzo (2000) 49 NSWLR 481; [2000] NSWCA 214 SAS Trustee Corporation v O'Keefe [2011] NSWCA 326 Stone v Stannard Brothers Launch Services Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 277 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Anthony Haddad (Appellant) The GEO Group Australia Pty Ltd ACN 051 130 600 (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B G McManamey/D N Adhikary (Appellant) P D Herzfeld SC/R P Harvey (Respondent)