Fernandez v Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [2025] NSWIRComm 2

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Fernandez v Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [2025] NSWIRComm 2 Hearing dates: 9–10 December 2024 Date of orders: 24 February 2025 Decision date: 24 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Paingakulam J, Deputy President Decision: Application dismissed Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW — Termination — Statutory rights — Unfair dismissal —Dismissal of a solicitor — Temporary employee — Unsatisfactory performance over an extended period — Multiple allegations — Procedural fairness — Dismissal not harsh, unreasonable or unjust — Costs — Costs sought on a Notice of Motion thrown away — Limited costs jurisdiction — Costs application dismissed Legislation Cited: Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (NSW) Government Sector Employment (General) Rules 2014 (NSW) Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) Industrial Relations (General) Regulation 2020 (NSW) Cases Cited: Alexandra Boyce v Industrial Relations Secretary on behalf of the Australian Museum Trust [2019] NSWIRComm 1013 Bankstown City Council v Paris (1999) 93 IR 209; [1999] NSWIRComm 530 Bar-Mordecai v State of New South Wales (2012) 83 NSWLR 125; [2012] NSWCA 207 Buchanan v Secretary, NSW Department of Education [2016] NSWIRComm 1045 Corrective Services NSW v Danwer (2013) 235 IR 215; [2013] NSWIRComm 61 Cross v Secretary of the Department of Education (No 2) [2022] NSWIRComm 1115 Davis v Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd (1998) 81 IR 364; [1998] NSWIRComm 289 Dr A v Health District (No 4) [2014] NSWIRComm 56 Grant Johnson and Department of Industry (on behalf of the Secretary of Department of Industry) [2017] NSWIRComm 1067 Kanan v Australian Postal & Telecommunications Union (1992) 43 IR 257; [1992] FCA 366 McGinn v Secretary, Family and Community Services (2017) 268 IR 345; [2017] NSWIRComm 1039 Outboard World Pty Limited (t/a Budget Waste Control (Sydney)) v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167; [1993] NSWIRComm 93 Transport Workers' Union and Robar Enterprises (No 2) [2014] NSWIRComm 9 Transport Workers' Union (on behalf of Darren Roger Bargwanna) and Robar Enterprises (No 2) [2014] NSWIRComm 9 Wattie v Industrial Relations Secretary on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Justice (No 2) [2018] NSWCA 124 Western Suburbs District Ambulance Committee v Tipping [1957] AR (NSW) 273 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Fernandez (Applicant) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Bembrick (Respondent)