Thomas and Christie Direct Pty Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 161

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Thomas and Christie Direct Pty Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 161 APPLICANT PARTIES : Justin Thomas RESPONDENT Christie Direct Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: 6638 of 2001 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - unfair dismissal - contract of employment - award conditions - employee's position made redundant - whether redundancy a sham - conflict of evidence - whether dismissal "harsh, unreasonable or unjust" - procedural fairness - principles considered. CATCHWORDS : Held, doubt as to bona fide redundancy - applicant not covered by award - applicant not warned his position was redundant - options for alternative employment not considered - no redundancy benefits - applicant selected on flawed basis - respondent's admissions - conflict in respondent's evidence - timing of dismissal insensitive - matters to be considered under s88 of the Act - applicant denied procedural fairness - dismissal "unjust" and "unreasonable" - reinstatement impractical - applicant's post dismissal earnings - s89(6) of the Act - applicant's age, length of service and marketability - compensation ordered - proceedings concluded save for any costs application. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) Huseyin Arslan and Others and Berkeley Challenge (Commercial) Pty Limited and Others [2001] NSWIRComm 45 Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Quality Bakers of Australia v Goulding (1995) 60 IR 327 Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association, New South Wales and WD & HO Wills Holdings Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 98 Jones and Dunkel (1958) 101 CLR 298 Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Macleay Valley Health Service and Jeffree, 58 IR 187 CASES CITED : Leeds and Northrop, 46 IR 11 Buckman v Burdekin, 85 IR 418 Byrne & Anor v Australian Airlines (1995) 185 CLR 410 Antonakopoulos v State Bank (1999) 91 IR 385 D & R Commercial Pty Ltd v Flood [2002] IRComm 88 Wilson v Department of Education and Training, 100 IR 1 Perkins v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Ltd, 72 IR 186 Hollingsworth v Commissioner of Police (No 2) 88 IR 282 HEARING DATES: 05/20/2002; 06/03/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/16/2002