Lawrance v Commissioner of Police [2010] NSWIRComm 149

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION: Lawrance v Commissioner of Police [2010] NSWIRComm 149

PARTIES: Andrew Lawrance (Applicant) Commissioner of Police (Respondent)

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 37 of 2010

CORAM: Walton J Vice-President

CATCHWORDS: POLICE - removal of police officer - conduct ground for removal - application for review - harshness only ground - relevant principles re harshness - off duty conduct - work Christmas party - display of Prince Albert piercing - exposure on two to three occasions - identification of witnesses - risk of exposure to others - offensive conduct - no members public present - divisive effect on party - immediate group witnessing not offended - other persons disassociate and remove from environment - appropriateness of conduct - Commissioner's Reasons - failure to adequately take account applicant's response - evaluation of substance of reasons - procedural issue not determinative - merit factors - gravity of misconduct - prior misconduct - contribution of alcohol - character evidence - impact on applicant - s 181F(3) - public interest - interests of applicant - harshness found - remedy - impracticable to reinstate - re-employment another position - Senior Constable - position available - applicant suitable for position - order for re-employment to be made effective 21 days - conditions re alcohol, promotion and warnings as to misconduct - parties to bring in draft orders - directions made

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Relations Act 1996 Police Service Act 1990 Summary Offences Act 1988

Anderson v Director General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change & Anor (2008) NSWCA 337 Becke v Commissioner of Police (No 4) [2010] NSWIRComm 74. Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Limited (2001) 105 IR 325 Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 Casari v South West Area Health Service (2009) 185 IR 217 Commissioner of Police for New South Wales v Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales (2009) 185 IR 458 Commissioner of Police v Evans (2006) 153 IR 144 Commission of Police v Collins (2008) 180 IR 191 Commissioner of Police v Dobbie (2006) 157 IR 44 Commissioner of Police v Brennan (2008) 172 IR 56 Commissioner of Police v Alyson Reid-Frost [2010] NSWIRComm 2 Department of Health v Kaplan [2010] NSWIRComm 65 Director General, NSW Department of Health v Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales (2010) 193 IR 244 Ferdinands v Commissioner for Public Employment (2006) 225 CLR 130 CASES CITED: Hosemans v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2005) 138 IR 159 Hosemans v Commissioner of Police (No 4) (2005) 150 IR 263 Humphries v Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizen's Memorial Club Limited (2003) 128 IR 37 McCabe v NSW Police Service (1996) 99 IR 361 Johnston v Commissioner of Police (2007) 169 IR 301 Little v Commissioner of Police No 2 (2002) 112 IR 212 Metropolitan Meat Industry Board v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union, New South Wales Branch [1973] AR (NSW) 231 Morgan v Commissioner of Police [2009] NSWIRComm 184 Morgan v Commissioner of Police [2010] NSWIRComm 67 Newton v New South Wales Police Service (1989) 87 IR 66 NSW Attorney General's Department v Miller [2007] NSWIRComm 33 Outboard World Pty Ltd (t/as Budget Waste Control (Sydney) v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Starr v Commissioner of Police [2001] NSW IRComm 226 Toshack v Commissioner of Police (2009) 181 IR 420 Van Huisstede v Commissioner of Police (2000) 98 IR 57