AHI Healthcare Systems v Clinical Associates of Australia [2001] NSWIRComm 38

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : AHI Healthcare Systems v Clinical Associates of Australia [2001] NSWIRComm 38 APPLICANT/CROSS RESPONDENT: AHI Healthcare Systems Pty Limited and anor PARTIES : RESPONDENT/CROSS APPLICANT: Clinical Associates of Australia Limited and anor FILE NUMBER: IRC 908 of 2000 and IRC 2342 of 2000 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Unfair contract - Healthcare industry - Consultancy agreement, deed of covenant and option agreement - Consultancy agreement terminated for cause without notice or payment in lieu - Whether agreements and deed unfair - Unfairness found - Orders made to remedy unfairness by varying agreements and deed of covenant - Order made for payment of money - Interest allowed - Costs reserved LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Abboud v State of New South Wales (1999) 92 IR 32 ABC Radio Taxi Co-Op v Matthews (unreported, Hungerford, Cullen and Schmidt JJ, CT 1287 of 1995, 8 March 1996) Avis v AMP Society (unreported, Schmidt J, CT 1310 of 1995, 21 December 1995) Barry v Incitec Ltd (1991) 45 IR 143 at 146 Beahan v Bush Boake Allen Australia Ltd (1999) 93 IR 1 at 32 Davies v General Transport Development Pty Ltd [1967] AR (NSW) 371 at 374 CASES CITED : Incitec Ltd v Industrial Court (NSW) (1992) 45 IR 155 at 157 (Gleeson CJ, Kirby P and Priestley JA) Mitchell v International Pipelines Limited (1998) 87 IR 324 Nordby v Barclays Investment Service (1993) 53 IR 319 Murphy v Australian Guarantee Corporation Limited [2000] NSWIRComm 162 Port Macquarie Golf Club Ltd v Stead (1996) 64 IR 53 at 57, 59 Pullen v R & C Products Pty Limited (1994) 60 IR 183 Reich v Client Server Professionals of Australia Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (2000) 99 IR 69 at 83 per Wright J, President, Walton J, Vice President, Hungerford J Walker v Hussman Australia Pty Limited (1991) 44 IR 404 Walker v Industrial Court of New South Wales (1994) 53 IR 121 at 148 HEARING DATES: 08/14/2000; 08/15/2000; 08/16/2000; 08/17/2000; 08/18/2000; 01/29/2001; 01/30/2001; 01/31/2001; 02/01/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/12/2001