Peter Rochester Gow v Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 247

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Peter Rochester Gow v Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club Ltd [2002] NSWIRComm 247 APPLICANT: Peter Rochester Gow

PARTIES : RESPONDENTS: Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club Limited Cronulla Sutherland District Rugby League Football Club Limited Barry Michael Pierce FILE NUMBER: IRC 4711 of 1999 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President CATCHWORDS : Unfair contract - Applicant former CEO - First and second respondents professional rugby league clubs - Third respondent President of first and second respondents - Statement of issues for proceedings - Findings of fact - Employment contract - Incident involving applicant in fight - Nature and circumstances of altercation - Self-defence, fear or intimidation not available as explanation or justification - Not reasonable response in circumstances - No issue under s109A - Employment contract not unfair on its terms in providing for summary dismissal for misconduct - Contract not unfair in terms as to conditions applying on termination - Constructive dismissal common ground - Reservations re constructive dismissal finding - Serious misconduct - Relevant principle re serious misconduct - Procedural fairness - Nature of defects - Adjournment refused - Bias of director - Nature and conduct of meeting of Board - No dismissal per se - Meeting in two parts - Applicant's conduct at meeting - Consulting arrangement inconsistent with procedural unfairness - Weighed with finding serious misconduct - Employment contract not unfair - Arrangement - Principles for - Nature and terms of arrangement - Unfairness - Good faith bargaining - Unfair dealings - Unjust enrichment - Failure to pay for work performed - Unequal bargaining positions - Arrangement unfair - Remedies - Discretion - Principles re discretion - Variation of arrangement not appropriate re introduction fee expenses and distress claims - Application re third respondent dismissed - Variation appropriate re non-payment for work and termination of arrangement - Variations to unfair contract (as defined) and money orders identified - Parties to bring in short minutes of order - Mitigation not issue - Costs reserved Industrial Relations Act 1996 s105 s106 s109A LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1991 s246 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) A&M Thompson Pty Ltd and others v Total Australia Ltd (1980) 2 NSWLR 1 Abboud v The State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) (1999) 92 IR 32 Adlam v Bauer [1999] 93 IR 114 Allison v Bega Valley Council (1995) 63 IR 68 Antonakopoulos v State Bank of New South Wales (1999) 91 IR 385 Australian Workers Union v Bowen (No. 2) [1948] 77 CLR 601 AWU-FIME Amalgamated Union v Qld Alumina Limited (1995) 62 IR 385 Beahan v Bush Boake Allen Australia Ltd (1999) 47 NSWLR 648 Bostik (Australia) Pty Ltd v Gorgevski (No 1) [1992] 41 IR 452 Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 325 Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 Day v Lumley Life Ltd (1999) 90 IR 70 Dickason v Edwards [1910] 10 CLR 243 Diver v Object Oriented Pty Ltd and Anor [2002] NSWIRComm 138 Foster v BHP Steel Long Products Division (1997) 64 SAIR 217 Hughes Aircraft Systems International v Airservices Australia (1997) 146 ALR 1 Hutchinson & BHP Steelworks, Port Kembla [2001] NSWIRComm 1025 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Lavings v Barclay Mowlem Construction (NSW) Pty Ltd (1994) 99 IR 247 Legal & General Assurance Society Ltd v Stock (1993) 49 IR 464 MacLeay Valley Health Service v Jeffree (1994) 58 IR 187 CASES CITED : Mason v Electricity Commission of NSW t/a Pacific Power (1995) 62 IR 436 McKell v J. Inverarity Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 115 Origin Energy Ltd v Smith [2001] NSWIRComm 308 Outboard World Pty Limited T/as Budget Waste Control (Sydney) v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Port Macquarie Golf Club Limited v Stead and Anor (1996) 64 IR 53 Re Dispute - Dismissal of Union Delegates at Homebush Abattoir [1966] 66 AR 371 Reich v Client Server Professionals of Australia Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 551 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Ross v GN Comtext (2000) 107 IR 1 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council [2002] HCA 5 Samaha v The Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family [2000] NSWIRComm 183 Sinclair, Scott & Co Ltd v Naughton (1929) 43 CLR 310 Starr v Commissioner of Police [2001] NSWIRComm 226 State Bank of New South Wales Ltd v Chia and Another (2000) 50 NSWLR 587