Strathfield Group Ltd v Hall [2002] NSWIRComm 373

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Strathfield Group Ltd v Hall [2002] NSWIRComm 373 APPELLANT: Strathfield Group Ltd PARTIES : RESPONDENTS: Steven Hall I World Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 7595 of 2001 CORAM: Wright J President; Peterson J; Kavanagh J Appeal - Interlocutory appeal - Appeal against dismissal of motion seeking to strike out part of summons - Leave to appeal - Conduct of parties relevant to question of leave - Interlocutory appeals - Appeal directed to finding of error not rehearing - No error of principle - Leave to appeal refused - Appeal dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : Unfair Contract - Arrangement - Power to vary in s 106(3) in context of an "arrangement" - Line of authority exemplified by Stone Microsystems (Aust) Pty Ltd v Kwong (1997) 42 NSWLR 160 considered - Once contract found to be unfair power to vary extends to any aspect of the arrangement whereby person performs work - No error of principle - Leave to appeal refused - Appeal dismissed.

Court and judges - Allegation of apprehended bias not made out - Principles to be applied. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 s 88F Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 105 s 106 Abboud v State of New South Wales (1999) 92 IR 32 Ace Business Brokers Pty Ltd v Phillips-Treby (2000) 100 IR 420 Bartolacci v Permanent Custodians (1992) 44 IR 388 Bartolacci v Permanent Custodians Ltd (No.2) (1992) 94 IR 122 Bell v Macquarie Bank Limited (No 4) (1999) 93 IR 191 Caltex Petroleum Pty Limited v Harmer (1999) 92 IR 264 Cash Converters Pty Limited v Yildiz (1999) 94 IR 474 Chamber of Manufactures of New South Wales v Australian Chamber of Manufactures, New South Wales Branch (1994) 56 IR 307 Custom Credit Corporation Ltd v Goldsmith [1976] AR (NSW) 98 De Simone Consulting Pty Ltd v Ison [2000] NSWIRComm 269 Dun and Bradstreet (Australia) Pty Ltd v Robbie (1999) 91 IR 150 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337 Euphoric Pty Limited v Ryledar Pty Limited and Anor (2002) 117 IR 1 Hall & Anor v Strathfield Group Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 266 Howitt v Retec Limited (1992) 45 IR 245 In re Becker and Harry M Miller Attractions Pty Ltd (No.2) [1972] AR (NSW) 298 Integral Energy v Allen (2001) 107 IR 456 CASES CITED : Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488 Knowles v Anglican Church Property Trust (No.2) (1999) 95 IR 380 Kwong v Stone Microsystems (Aust) Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 255 Legal & General Assurance Society Limited v Stock (1993) 49 IR 464 Metrocall Inc v Electronic Tracking Systems Pty Limited (No 2) (2000) 102 IR 309 Nagle (T/as W D & J L Nagle & Sons) v Tilburg (1993) 51 IR 8 National Australia Bank Ltd v Cassino [2002] NSWIRComm 241 Parramatta City Council v Health and Building Surveyors Association (NSW) (1988) 26 IR 398 Re Laundry Employees (State) Award (No 2) (1993) 49 IR 91 Reich v Client Server Professionals of Australia Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (2000) 49 NSWLR 551, 99 IR 69 Ridge Consolidated Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mauger) (2000) 100 IR 156 Smith v Craig Mostyn & Co Pty Limited (1984) 2 NSWLR 393 Social & Community Welfare Services (State) Award and Other Awards, Re (1984) 9 IR 305 Solicitors (State) Award, Re (1997) 72 IR 225 Stone Microsystems (Aust) Pty Ltd v Kwong (1997) 42 NSWLR 160 Vaughan v O'Meara (1989) 31 IR 21 Virtue v NSW Department of Education (1999) 92 IR 428 Western Sydney Area Health Service v Gibson (2001) 109 IR 359 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Dubois) v Concrete Constructions Group Limited [2000] NSWIRComm 65 HEARING DATES: 02/08/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/20/2002