Staal and Tupene and Western Sydney Area Health Service [2004] NSWIRComm 325

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Staal and Tupene and Western Sydney Area Health Service [2004] NSWIRComm 325 APPLICANTS Allen Staal PARTIES : Matu Tupene RESPONDENT Western Sydney Area Health Service FILE NUMBER: 6816, 6817 of 2002 CORAM: Sams DP Notice of motion - costs in unfair dismissal proceedings - whether unreasonable refusal to settle claims - conduct of the parties - application for indemnity costs - principles considered. CATCHWORDS : Held, no offer by employer to settle claim on any basis - applicants reinstated with no loss of continuity and back pay - risk in not making any offer - employer unreasonably refused to settle claims - circumstances unusual, exceptional and out of the ordinary - exercise of discretion - indemnity costs appropriate - orders made. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Workplace Video Surveillance Act 1998 Bankstown City Council v Paris (1999) 93 IR 209 Cornell v Titley [2002] NSWIRComm 326 Four Sons Pty Limited v Sakchai Limsiripothong (2000) 100 IR 400 IGA Distribution Pty Ltd and Moses No. 3 [2003] NSWIRComm 230 Justin Thomas and Christie Direct Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 25 CASES CITED : Passas v Skouloudis Group Pty Ltd t/as O'Kosmos [2001] NSWIRComm 124 Timothy Fox v GIO Australia [2002] NSWIRComm 318 Tuholi Pty Ltd v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 7 Weisser v Spur Group Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 79 Van Huisstede v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2001) 106 IR 56 Youssef v Western Sydney Area Health Service No. 3 [2004] NSWIRComm 124 HEARING DATES: 06/25/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/04/2004