Hogan v Employment National (Administration) Pty Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 313

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Hogan v Employment National (Administration) Pty Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 313 APPLICANT: Michael John Hogan PARTIES : RESPONDENT: Employment National (Administration) Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: IRC 5854 of of 1999 CORAM: Haylen J CATCHWORDS : Unfair contract - s 106 Industrial Relations Act - probationary employment - termination during probationary period - failure to properly investigate office tensions - pressure on applicant to make claims for unauthorised payments in favour of respondent - contract and Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) both operative - terms of contract and AWA in substantially standard form - unequal bargaining strength of parties - probation not part of requirements of AWA - period of probation required unfair - conduct permitted by respondent rendered contract unfair during its currency - AWA not incorporated into contract of employment - inconsistency under s 109, Constitution rejected - s 109A of Act inapplicable - contract unfair at inception and by reason of conduct of respondent - orders made varying contract - money order made under s 106(5) Constitution s 109 Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 106 s 106(5) s 109A LEGISLATION CITED : Workplace Relations Act 1996 s 152 s 170C(1)(b) 170VF(1) s 170LZ 170VR(1) Workplace Relations Act 1996 Regulation 30B(1)(c) sub-divisions B C D E and F Division 3 of Part VIA

Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Wardley (1978-1979) 142 CLR 237 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Industrial Court (SA) and anor (1976-1977) 138 CLR at 399 ACTEW Corporation Ltd v Pangallo [2002] FCA 325, per Whitlam and Gyles JJ Beahan v Bush Boake Allen Australia Ltd (1999) 47 NSWLR 648 - 692 Barry v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2002) 112 IR 33 Burgess and ors v Mount Thorley Operations Pty Ltd [2002) NSWIRComm 106 BHP Iron Ore Pty Ltd v The AWU (2000) 102 FCR 97 BNY Australia Ltd v James (1992) 26 NSWLR 57 Davies v General Transport Development Pty Ltd (1967) AR 371 at 373 - 374 Hudson v Qantas Airways Ltd (1985) 10 IR 331 CASES CITED : ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd (t/as Dulux Australia) v Hutton (1993) 47 IR 288 Incitec Ltd and anor v Industrial Court of New South Wales (1992) 45 IR 155 Huskisson RSL Sub-Branch Ltd v Sullivan (1990) 20 NSWLR 332 McGowan v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2001) 104 IR 244 Moore v Newcastle City Council, re Civic Theatre, Newcastle (1997) 77 IR 210 Riverwood International Australia Pty Ltd v McCormick (2000) 177 ALR 193 Scott v Picone and ors [2002] NSWIRComm 239 State of New South Wales v Health and Research Employees' Association of New South Wales (unreported, Fisher CJ, Bauer and Hill JJ, 31 March 1993) Thornthwaite v Australian National Credit Union Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 240 Walker v The Industrial Court of New South Wales (1994) 53 AR 121 Westfield Holdings v Adams (2001) 114 IR 241 HEARING DATES: 04/15/2002; 04/16/2002; 04/17/2002; 04/18/2002; 04/19/2002; 08/27/2002; 09/05/2002; 10/17/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/27/2002