Bowker & Anor v Software Engineers Australia (NSW) Pty Limited & Ors [2004] NSWIRComm 104

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Bowker & Anor v Software Engineers Australia (NSW) Pty Limited & Ors [2004] NSWIRComm 104 APPLICANT: Geoffrey Bowker

SECOND APPLICANT: Bonket Pty Limited (ACN 069 224 764)

FIRST RESPONDENT: Software Engineers Australia (NSW) Pty Limited (ACN 006 513 499)

PARTIES : SECOND RESPONDENT: Timothy Arundell

THIRD RESPONDENT: Prophecy Technologies (Southern Region) Australia (NSW) Pty Ltd (ACN 087 222 419)

FOURTH RESPONDENT: ACN 087 222 357 Pty Ltd

FIFTH RESPONDENT: Prophecy People Pty Ltd (ACN 007 248 286) FILE NUMBER: IRC 291 of 1999 CORAM: Schmidt J CATCHWORDS : Unfair contracts and arrangements - information technology industry - claims not contrary to section 108 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 - claim for recovery of money due under a lease not within jurisdiction - common law duty of trust and confidence - power under section 106 to vary unfair contract to deal expressly with disparagement of employee during and after employment found - case for relief made out on merits - variation to employment contract ordered - money orders in relation to consulting work, overtime, commission - power to make money orders in relation to disparagement found - basis upon which such order are to be assessed - orders made accordingly - joint and several orders against respondents - interest - various contracts declared void Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Trade Practices Act 1974 Addis v Gramophone Company Limited (1909) AC 488 Brown v Rezitis (1970) 127 CLR 157 Bowker & Anor v Software Engineers Australia (NSW) Pty Limited & Ors [2003] NSWIRComm 343 Cassell & Co Ltd v Broome [1972] AC 1027 Crampton v Nugawela (1996) 41 NSWLR 176 DarvalI v NZI Securities Australia Ltd & Ors (1991) 39 IR 215 Dodds v Premier Sports Australia Pty Ltd & Ors [2003] NSWSC 948 Gambotto v John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd (2001) 104 IR 303 Geoffrey Bowker & anor v Prophecy Technologies Pty Ltd (unreported, Marks J, 26 May 1999) Hairman v FileNET Corporation Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 318 Heath Group Australasia Pty Limited v Hanning [1999] NSWSC 719 Lumby v Yorkshire General Life Assurance Co Ltd [1978] 1 NSWLR 626 Malik v Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA (1998) AC 20 CASES CITED : Minister for Youth & Community Services v Health & Research Employees' Association of Australia, New South Wales Branch (1987) 10 NSWLR 543 Mitchforce v Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales & Ors (2003) 124 IR 79 Mitchforce v Starkey (No 2) [2003] NSWIRComm 458 National Parks & Wildlife Service v Stables Perisher Pty Limited (1990) 20 NSWLR 573 Nixon v Slater & Gordon (2000) 175 ALR 15 Origin Energy Limited v Smith (2001) 111 IR 476 Perrott v Xcellenet Australia Ltd (1998) 84 IR 255 Reich v Client Service Professionals of Australia Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 551 Resarta Pty Ltd v Finemore (2002) 118 IR 377 Spring v Guardian Assurance Plc (1995) 2 AC 296 Stevenson v Barham (1977) 136 CLR 190 Svecova v Industrial Commission of New South Wales (1991) 39 IR 328 Walker v Full Court of the Industrial Court of New South Wales (1994) 53 IR 121 Westfield Holdings v Adams (2002) 114 IR 241 HEARING DATES: 12/04/2000; 12/05/2000; 12/06/2000; 08/13/2001; 08/14/2001; 08/15/2001; 08/16/2001; 03/04/2002; 03/11/2002; 03/15/2002; 04/02/2002; 06/11/2002; 04/24/2003; 04/29/2003; 06/23/2003; 10/13/2003; 10/14/2003; 10/15/2003; 10/16/2003; 12/19/2003; 02/04/2004; 03/08/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/23/2004