Humphries and Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 225

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Humphries and Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 225 APPLICANT: PARTIES : Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, Liquor and Hospitality Division, New South Wales Branch (on behalf of Joy Maree Humphries) RESPONDENT: Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Ltd FILE NUMBER: 1852 of 2000 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - unfair dismissal - allegations of fraudulent activity - credibility of witnesses - serious and wilful misconduct - obligations in employment relationship - police investigation - criminal charges dismissed - whether allegations proven - onus of proof in civil proceedings - respondent's investigation of allegations - procedural fairness - gravity of misconduct - whether reinstatement practical - principles considered. CATCHWORDS : Held, allegations proven on the balance of probabilities - applicant's denials of wrongdoing not credible - serious and wilful misconduct justified dismissal - gravity of misconduct outweighed issues of procedural fairness - employee breached duty to act with good faith and fidelity - dismissal not "harsh, unreasonable or unjust" - application dismissed - proceedings concluded. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Evidence Act 1995 Rich River Golf Club (ACN 001 357 071) v Lynette Anne Power (unreported) Full Bench, Matter IRC640 of 1995, 12 May 1995 Antonakopoulos v State Bank of New South Wales, 91 IR 385 Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union, NSW Branch (on behalf of Maree Ploner) and Westport Bowling Club Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 205 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Makers Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White No 3, 35 IR 70 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Perkins v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Ltd, 72 IR 186 Davey v Enacon Parking (unreported) Connor C, Matter IRC1866 of 1995, 13 December 1995 Australian Workers' Union, New South Wales Branch v Colgate Palmolive, 27 IR 420 Byrne & Anor v Australian Airlines (1985) 185 CLR 10 Loty & Holloway and Australian Workers' Union (1971) AR (NSW) 95 Bi Lo Pty Ltd v Hooper, 53 IR 224 Four Sons Pty Limited v Sakchai Limsiripothong, 98 IR 1 Western Suburbs District Ambulance Committee v Tipping (1957) AR (NSW) 273 Wang and Others v Crestell Industries Pty Ltd and Another, 73 IR 454 CASES CITED : Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association v Jewel Food Stores, 22 IR 1 Franklins Limited v Webb, 72 IR 257 Lawrence v Catholic Education Office [2002] NSWIRComm 115 Hill and Department of Juvenile Justice [2000] NSWIRComm 128 Day v Lumley Life, 90 IR 70 North v Television Corporation Ltd (1976) 11 ALR 599 Blyth Chemicals v Bushnell, 49 CLR 66 Transport Workers' Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch, on behalf of Joseph Vallis, and TNT Australia Pty Limited t/as TNT Express [2002] NSWIRComm 46 Burke v McGirr (1995) 87 IR 54 Oswald v NSW Police Service (1999) 90 IR 42 Johnson v Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta, 87 IR 57 Abboud v The State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) 92 IR 32 Buckman v Burdekin, 85 IR 418 Wilson v Department of Education and Training, 100 IR 1 D & R Commercial Pty Ltd v Flood, 113 IR 344 Foster and Woolworths Limited [2000] NSWIRComm 208 Rapp v Wauchope RSL Club, 81 IR 11 HEARING DATES: 06/04/2002; 06/05/2002; 06/06/2002; 06/07/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/06/2002