Perfection Dairies Pty Ltd v Finn [2006] NSWIRComm 137

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION: Perfection Dairies Pty Ltd v Finn [2006] NSWIRComm 137

APPELLANT: Perfection Dairies Pty Ltd PARTIES: RESPONDENT: Russell Finn

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 2780 of 2005

CORAM: Wright J President; Staff J; Stanton C

CATCHWORDS: Appeal - Unfair dismissal - Whether applicant's bankruptcy precluded application being made under s 84 - Provisions of Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) - Statutory interpretation - Held, that s 84 application available - Whether commissioner's discretion miscarried in finding the dismissal harsh, unreasonable or unjust - Decision at first instance - Extreme language used by commissioner inappropriate - Circumstances of case - Nature of misconduct alleged - Leave to appeal granted - Appeal dismissed.

Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) ss 5 60 58 106 116 139L 139U LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 s 88F Industrial Relations Act 1996 ss 84 89 187 188

Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 325 Byrne and Frew v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 Commissioner of Police v Hollingsworth (1997) 77 IR 339 Daemar v Industrial Commission of New South Wales & Ors (1988) 12 NSWLR 45 Davis v Port Seal Pty Ltd (1997) 72 IR 414 Ex parte Vine; re Wilson (1878) 8 Ch D 364 Faulkner v Bluett (1981) 52 FLR 115 Finn v Perfection Dairies Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 1067 Franklins Ltd v Webb (1997) 72 IR 257 Fuller v Beach Petroleum NL (1993) 43 FCR 60 Geia v Palm Island Aboriginal Council (1999) 152 FLR 135 Griffiths v Civil Aviation Authority (1995) 137 ALR 521 CASES CITED: Re Heenan; Ex parte Collins (1993) 116 ALR 146 Hollingsworth v Commissioner of Police (1999) 88 IR 282 Hosemans v Commissioner of Police (No 4) [2005] NSWIRComm 409 Humphries v Cootamundra Ex Services and Citizens Memorial Club Ltd (2003) 128 IR 37 Little v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2002) 112 IR 212 Najdov v Macedonian Australia Welfare Association of Australia Inc [2004] NSWIRComm 101 NSW Public Service Professional Officers' Association v Forestry Commission (NSW) (1990) 39 IR 46 Pastrycooks, Biscuit Makers & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White (No 3) (1990) 35 IR 70 Pelechowski v NSW Land and Housing Commission [2000] FCA 233 Plummer v Stannard Bros Launch Service Pty Limited (2005) 145 IR 111 Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of New South Wales (on behalf of Peter Riley) v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2006] NSWIRComm 108 Reich v Client Server Professionals of Australia Pty Limited (Administrator Appointed) (2000) 99 IR 69 Roberts v Larload Pty Limited [2005] NSWIRComm 1049 Smith v Chevelle Developments Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 109