Ian Ueckert and Australian Water Technologies Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 123

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Ian Ueckert and Australian Water Technologies Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 123 PARTIES : Australian Services Union of New South Wales on behalf of Ian Ueckert Australian Water Technologies Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: 5553 of 1999 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - serious and wilful misconduct - sexual harassment of female employees - accessing pornographic material on computer - credibility of witnesses - mitigation - whether dismissal harsh, unreasonable or unjust - whether applicant afforded procedural fairness - reinstatement sought. CATCHWORDS : Held, allegations of serious misconduct proven - employer's onus discharged - applicant engaged in sexual harassment of female employees - applicant regularly accessed pornographic computer material - respondent's witness evidence preferred - respondent's investigation fair - respondent had no choice but to dismiss the applicant - Commission declines to intervene - application dismissed. Industrial Relations Act 1996 LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Anti Discrimination Act 1977 Nicholson v Heaven and Earth Gallery Pty Ltd (1994) 57 IR 50 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Makers Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White No 3, 35 IR 70 Franklins Limited v Webb, 72 IR 257 Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association v Jewel Food Stores, 22 IR 2 Bigg & Anor v New South Wales Police Service, 80 IR 434 Federated Municipal and Shire Council Employees Union of Australia, New South Wales Division, on behalf of Stephen Wardle, and Blue Mountains City Council, (unreported) Sams DP, IRC4727 of 1998, 21 May 1999 Taggart and Bell Sports Australia, (unreported) Sams DP, IRC5224 of 1998, 10 September 1999 Thornton and Happy Hours Pre School Kindergarten (unreported) IRC5333 of 1998, 29 July 1999 Wang v Crestell Industries Pty Ltd, 73 IR 454 Four Sons Pty Ltd v Limsiripothong, (unreported) Full Bench, IRC6337 of 1999, 20 March 2000 Standley v Electronics Boutique Australia Pty Ltd, (unreported) Sams DP, IRC4516 of 1998, 18 March 1999 Byrne & Anor v Australian Airlines (1995) 185 CLR 410 at p465 CASES CITED : Burke v McGirr (1995) 87 IR 54 Oswald v New South Wales 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 ) (1999) 92 IR 32 Myers v New South Wales Police Service, 93 IR 123 National Union of Workers, New South Wales Branch, on behalf of Phillip Charles Mumby, and Davids Distribution Pty Ltd (unreported) Sams DP, IRC2056 of 1999, 9 February 2000 Herson and One.Tel Ltd (unreported) Sams DP, IRC5181 of 1998, 18 February 2000 Yopp v Advanx (Gosford) Motor Services Pty Ltd (unreported) Sams DP, IRC4592 of 1998, 7 May 1999 Antanakopoulos v State Bank of New South Wales (1999) 91 IR 385 Jones v Armas Nominees Pty Ltd, 59 IR 61 Pezzimenti v Seamer (unreported) Country Court of Victoria, MC922854, 30 September 1994