Tranter v Shaan Holdings Pty Ltd t-as Shaan Eyeworks and another [2006] NSWIRComm 245

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Tranter v Shaan Holdings Pty Ltd t-as Shaan Eyeworks and another [2006] NSWIRComm 245

Applicant: Mark Tranter

PARTIES: First respondent: Shaan Holdings Pty Ltd t/as Shaan Eyeworks ABN: 57 806 086 393

Second respondent: Neil McColl

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 2453 of 2004

CORAM: Backman J

CATCHWORDS: Unfair contract - s 106 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 - whether contract became unfair by reason of what it permitted and what it failed to specify - whether circumstances of termination properly characterised as breach of contract and therefore outside the jurisdictional reach of s 106 - whether allegations of unfairness where they rely on conduct referable to the terms of the contract - whether applicant's termination of employment at the instigation of the employer - contract held to be unfair within s 106 by reason of unilateral variations to applicant's salary package and circumstances of termination - money orders considered in terms of one global payment taking into account payment in lieu of notice and severance payment - principle of mitigation considered and not applied - liability of non-party under the principles of Brown v Rezitis considered - held: first and second respondents jointly and severally liable to pay monetary orders under s 106(5) - interest - orders - costs.

Civil Procedure Act 2005 LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 - 1967 Industrial Relations Act 1996

AFMEPKIU New South Wales Branch v David & Ors [2006] NSWIRComm 206 Allison v Bega Valley Council (1995) 63 IR 68 Brown and Others v Rezitis and Others (1970) 127 CLR 157 Gala v State Bank of New South Wales t/a Colonial State Bank (No 2) (1998) 84 IR 216 CASES CITED: Keycorp Limited v Thomes (2004) 141 IR 116 Ross v GN Comtext (Australia) Pty Limited (2000) 107 IR 1 Sydney Water Corporation Ltd and Another v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW and Another (2004) 61 NSWLR 661; 141 IR 14 Tokyo Network Computing Pty Ltd and Anor v Tanaka [2004] NSWCA 263 (2 August 2004) Truelove v Sydney Water Corporation Ltd (2005) 146 IR 253 Walker v Industrial Court of New South Wales & Anor (1994) 53 IR 121