Timothy Fox v GIO Australia Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 318

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Timothy Fox v GIO Australia Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 318 APPLICANT: Timothy Fox PARTIES : RESPONDENT: GIO Australia Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC5966 of 1999 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President CATCHWORDS : Declaratory relief - Statutory interpretation - Section 174 Industrial Relations Act - Discretion to make orders in accordance with settlement - Unconscionability to be taken into account - Extent of power to make such orders if settlement invalid - Importance of adherence to settlements voluntarily entered into - Sections 200A(1)(b) and 200B Corporations Act 2001- Whether "giving a benefit" includes an agreement to pay a settlement sum upon consent orders - "Making a payment" - Nature of proceedings under s106 Industrial Relations Act 1996 - Whether issues of unfairness under s106 "in connection with" loss of office within meaning of s200B Corporations Act 2001 - Section 200H Corporations Act 2001 - Whether court order a "law in force in Australia" - Exemption under corporations law - Exemption applies by virtue of s174 order - Doctrine of illegality - Not applicable in this case - To be applied cautiously - Whether s200B an express prohibition - Intention to penalise rather than to render illegal - Harsh effect of application of doctrine - Implied authority - Not raised but relevant - Interest - Indemnity costs Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) Corporations Act 1989 Corporations Act 2001 LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 International Arbitration Act (1974) (Cth) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 (Vic) Navigation Amendment Act 1979 Abboud v The State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) (1999) 92 IR 32 Abdurahman v Field (1987) 8 NSWLR 158 Australasian Memory Pty Ltd v Brien [2000] HCA 30 Ballabil Holdings Pty Ltd v Hospital Products Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 155 Beahan v Bush Boake Allen Australia Limited (1999) 47 NSWLR 648 Broken Hill Chamber of Commerce and Ors and Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (New South Wales Branch) [2002] NSWIRComm 244 Campbells Cash and Carry Pty Ltd v National Union of Workers, New South Wales Branch (No.2) (2001) 53 NSWLR 393 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Crown Employees' (Teachers in Schools and TAFE and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award (2000) 102 IR 202 Cummings v Claremont Petroleum NL (1992) 9 ACSR 583 CASES CITED : Dr Payne v The University of Sydney and Anor [2000] NSWIRComm 102 Hurst and Ors v Vestcorp Ltd (1988) 12 NSWLR 394 Kirmani v Captain Cook Cruises Pty Ltd & Anor [No 1] (1985) 159 CLR 351 Lander and Anor v Whitbread and Ors [1982] 2 NSWLR 530 Langan v Ceramiclab Pty Limited (2000) 97 IR 80 Metrocall Inc v Electronic Tracking Systems Pty Ltd (2000) 101 IR 66 Mills v Meeking & Anor (1990) 169 CLR 214 R v Isaac & Ors, ex parte Transport Workers' Union (1985) 159 CLR 323 Re Mahmoud and Ispahani [1921] 2 KB 716 Smarzak v Grimes Management Services Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm73 Storeworkers - Campbells Cash and Carry Pty Limited (NSW), NUW (NSW Branch) Award 2000 (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 53 The Firm (Australia) Pty Ltd v South Sydney Council [1999] NSWLEC 5 Van Huisstede v the Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2001) 106 IR 56 HEARING DATES: 03/05/2002; 03/28/2002; 04/09/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/19/2002