Health Administration Corporation and others v Crocker and others [2004] NSWIRComm 163

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Health Administration Corporation and others v Crocker and others [2004] NSWIRComm 163 APPELLANTS: Health Administration Corporation Northern Sydney Area Health Service Western Sydney Area Health Service South Western Sydney Area Health Service Wentworth Area Health Service PARTIES : RESPONDENTS: Kenneth Darvall Crocker Gregory John Driver Keith Hornshaw Christopher Bentley Kevin Gillies FILE NUMBER: IRC 4893, 4895, 4896, 4897 of 2003 CORAM: Wright J President; Marks J; Haylen J CATCHWORDS : Appeal - Unfair contract - Applications for leave to appeal and appeal - Employer altered conditions of employment of staff - No written agreement - Trial judge found arrangements unfair - Appeal principles - Leave to appeal refused, by majority - Whether reliance by major public authority on misunderstanding of statutory powers raises public interest considerations - Appeals dismissed. Area Health Services Act 1986 Contracts Review Act 1980 LEGISLATION CITED : Conveyancing Act 1919 s 54A Health Services Act 1997 s 16 s 115 s 116 s 121 Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 8 s 13 s 38 s 106 s 175 s 188 s 191 Public Hospitals Act 1929 Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth (1977) 139 CLR 54 Beneficial Finance Corporation Ltd v Karavas (1991) 23 NSWLR 256 Commander Australia Limited v Kerr [2004] NSWIRComm 74 Downey v Prior (1960) 103 CLR 353 Gibson v Western Sydney Area Health Service [2003] NSWIRComm 465 Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corp (1984) 156 CLR 41 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Houssein v The Under Secretary, Department of Industrial Relations and Technology N.S.W. (1982) 148 CLR 88 CASES CITED : Inspector Moore v Blacktown City Council [2003] NSWIRComm 47 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 129 Newton v Goodman Fielder Mills Ltd (1998) 81 IR 227 Norbis v Norbis (1986) 161 CLR 513 O'Sullivan v Farrer (1989) 168 CLR 210 Port Macquarie Golf Club Limited v Stead (1996) 64 IR 53 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Riverwood International Australia Pty Ltd v McCormick (2000) 177 ALR 193 St George Bank Limited v Trimarchi in [2004] NSWCA 120 Westfield Holdings v Adams (2001) 114 IR 241 HEARING DATES: 03/17/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/09/2004