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TOOMEY v POWER
SUPREME COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COURT OF APPEAL
PRIESTLEY, CLARKE and CRIPPS JJA
25 May 1993, 18 August 1993
[1993] NSWCA 271
GREAT — jurisdiction to determine appeals — whether respondent was employed
"dn the service of the Crown" — respondent employed by United Dental Hospital of
Sydney — body did "not represent the Crown". HELD: The respondent was, for the
purposes of GREAT, "in the service of the Crown" although employed by a body
which has a separate legal personality from the Crown.
Mounsey and Anor v Findlay, Court of Appeal, 18 August 1993, unreported.
Priestley JA I agree with Clarke JA.
Clarke JA The respondent, Mr Power, was employed by the United Dental
Hospitalof Sydney. In 1989 he applied for a position of Senior Dental Technician,
Partial Denture Section, at that hospital. He was not successful and a decision
was made to appoint the appellant, Mr Toomey, to the position. On 16 August
1989 the respondent lodged a notice of appeal to the Government and Related
Employees' Appeal Tribunal ("the Tribunal') against that decision.
Upon his appeal coming on for hearing the appellant (who was the respondent
to that appeal) submitted that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction because the
respondent was not an employee within the meaning of para(e) of subs4(1) of the
Government and Related Employees' Appeal Act 1980 ("the GREAT Act"). The
submission raised the issue whether the respondent was "employed in the service
of the Crown" within the meaning of s4(1)(e) of the GREAT Act. The Tribunal
found that the respondent was employed in the service of the Gown and therefore
held that it had jurisdiction.
This conclusion has been challenged in this Court. The appeal was heard at the
same time as the appeal in Mounsey and Anor v Findlay and it is, I think, true
to say that all the argument concerned the other matter. Counsel for the appellant
indicated to the court that there was some doubt whether it was necessary to
consider the Area Health Services Act 1986 or the Public Hospitals Act 1929 in
order to resolve this case but added that there was no need to decide that question
as the result would be the same in either event. This concession was accepted by
counsel for the respondent and the hearing proceeded upon the basis that the
decision in the matter of Mounsey and Anor v Findlay would resolve this appeal
also. In these circumstances it is unnecessary to say any more than that pursuant
to s22A of the Public Hospitals Act the Board of Directors of an incorporated
public hospital is subjected to the control and direction of the Minister except in
a respect which is expressed in precisely the same terms as s14 of the Area
Hospitals Act. Further, by subs2 of s22A it is provided that an incorporated
hospital does not represent the Crown. In addition s40BA of the Public Hospitals
Act is, relevantly, in substantially identical terms with s26 of the Area Hospitals
Act.
2 UNREPORTED JUDGMENTS
It is, I perceive, the similarity between those sections which has led counsel to
the view which they put to the court but, in any event, as it was accepted that this
case would be resolved by the decision in Mounsey and Anor v Findlay it is
unnecessary to say any more than that the appropriate order is that the appeal
5 should be dismissed with costs.
Cripps J I agree with Clarke JA.
Appeal is dismissed with costs.
10 — Counsel for the Appellant: TJ ANDERSON
Instructed by: BARTIER PERRY and PURCELL
Counsel for the Respondent: W HAYLEN QC and J NOLAN
Instructed by: JONES STAFF and Co