Kenneth Brunette v Integral Energy Australia [2003] NSWIRComm 324

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Kenneth Brunette v Integral Energy Australia [2003] NSWIRComm 324 APPLICANT: PARTIES : Kenneth Brunette RESPONDENT: Integral Energy Australia FILE NUMBER: IRC1925 of 2001 CORAM: Kavanagh J CATCHWORDS : Section 106 unfair contract claim in the performance of contract - conduct of respondent in investigation into complaint - grievance proceedings in contract not followed - applicant not fully informed of ambit of broader issues to be further investigated - applicant refuses to perform special project duties allocated to him by respondent during investigation - constructive dismissal - repudiation of contract - employer makes clear contract in its existing form is not to continue - changed role of employee - contract of employment terminated by respondent in unreasonably requiring applicant to perform special project duties - compensation, just in the circumstances, determined by payment of order in form of Notice LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Bates v Finance Australia Pty Limited & Others Finance Australia Pty Limited & Ors v Gregory Scott Bates [2002] NSWIRComm 42 Brookton Holdings Pty Ltd v Kara Kar Holdings Pty Ltd (1994) 57 IR 288 Day v Lumley Life Ltd (1999) 90 IR 70 Elkins v Full Bloom Pty Ltd (2000) NSWIRComm 223 Malik v BCCI SA (In Liq) (1997) 3 All ER Marriott v Oxford & District Co-Operative Society Ltd (No.2) (1970) 1 QBE 186 CASES CITED : McIlraith v Bliss Corporation Ltd (unreported, Peterson J, No 4461 of 1997, 10 November 1998) Richtsteiger v Century Geophysical Corporation (unreported, Marshall J, 8 October 1996, No. 471 of 1996) R v Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Company Ltd, Ex Parte Halliday (1938) 60 CLR 601 Van Tran v Calum Textiles Pty Ltd (1997) 42 AILR 353 Vision Publishing Pty Limited v PK Lane Holdings Pty Limited & Ors (1998) 84 IR 277 Western Excavating (ECC) Ltd v Sharpe (1978) 1 QB 761