Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 117

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 117 APPELLANT Shane Peter Burge PARTIES : RESPONDENT NSW BHP Steel Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 1251 of 2000 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President; Hungerford J; Bishop C CATCHWORDS : Appeal - Application for leave to appeal - Unfair dismissal - Challenge to commissioner's decision that dismissal was not harsh, unreasonable or unjust - Dismissal for fighting in the workplace - Alleged serious and wilful misconduct - Errors of fact and law - Serious issues raised - Interests of dismissed employeee - "No fighting" policy of employer - Investigation of incident by employer - Policy applied without considertion of background circumstances - Provocation - No eyewitnesses - Failure to take into account objective evidence of what likely occurred - Reliance on reconstruction of incident without evidentiary support - Onus on employer to establish misconduct to requisite standard of proof - Leave to appeal granted - Appeal upheld - Practicability of reinstatement - Discretion - Reinstatement ordered, without loss of remuneration and continuity of employment (except for a specified period). LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 89 s 181(2) s 187(a) s 188(1) Pt 6 of Ch 2 Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167 Abboud v State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) (1999) 92 IR 32 Ace Business Brokers Pty Ltd v Phillips-Treby (2000) 100 IR 420 Australasian Transport Officers' Association v Department of Motor Transport [1988] 25 IR 235 Autobake Pty Ltd v Budd [1986] 19 IR 18 Bankstown City Council v Paris (1999) 93 IR 209 Bostik (Australia) Pty Ltd v Gorgevski (No 1) [1992] 41 IR 452 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 CCH Australia Ltd v Bowen (1998) 79 IR 206 Clarke v Metropolitan Meat Industry Board [1967] AR (NSW) 16 Crown Employees (Teachers, Locality Allowance, &c) Award [1981] AR (NSW) 1017 Dispute - Dismissal of Union Delegates at Homebush Abattoir [1966] AR (NSW) 371 CASES CITED : Four Sons Pty Ltd v Limsiripothong (No 2) (2000) 100 IR 400 Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (1994) 60 IR 149 Hollingsworth v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (1999) 47 NSWLR 151, (1999) 88 IR 282 London Bank of Australia Ltd v Kendall (1920) 28 CLR 401 Martin v Osborne (1936) 55 CLR 367 NSW Public Service Professional Officers Association v Forestry Commission (NSW) [1990] 39 IR 46 Oswald v New South Wales Police Service (1999) 90 IR 42 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Makers Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White (No 3) [1990] 35 IR 70 Perkins v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Ltd (1997) 72 IR 186 Perrott v XcelleNet Australia Ltd (1998) 84 IR 255 Port Macquarie Gold Club Ltd v Stead (1996) 64 IR 53 Victorian Stevedoring and General Contracting Co Pty Ltd v Dignan (1931) 46 CLR 73 Warren v Coombes (1978) 142 CLR 531 Yew v ACI Glass Packaging Pty Ltd (1996) 71 IR 201 HEARING DATES: 08/17/2000; 08/18/2000; 12/13/2000 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 05/31/2001