Commissioner of Police v Evans [2006] NSWIRComm 170

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION: Commissioner of Police v Evans [2006] NSWIRComm 170

APPELLANT Commissioner of Police PARTIES: RESPONDENT Martin Evans

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 5973 of 2005

CORAM: Walton J Acting President; Schmidt J; Staff J

Appeal - Application for leave to appeal and appeal - Application under s181E of the Police Service Act 1990 - removal of police officer - off-duty officer assaulted civilian - officer convicted of assault - intoxication - removal found to be harsh at first instance - a decision of mixed fact and law - leave to appeal not lightly granted - unfair dismissal test applies to review of removals under s181E - this test not altered by s181F - public interest one factor to be taken into account - there may be competing public interests - proportionality of penalty to misconduct - no error of law or principle - leave to appeal refused (by majority) CATCHWORDS: Nutshack claim - failure by Commissioner to comply with orders made at first instance - abuse of process in absence of stay - may result in Court declining to hear application for leave to appeal - not basis for orders on appeal

Industrial Relations Act 1996 s84 s 89 s146(2) LEGISLATION CITED: Police Service Act 1990 s181D s181E s181F s181G Workplace Relations Act 1996 s170C

Abboud v The State of New South Wales (Department of School Education) (1999) 92 IR 32 Ace Business Brokers Pty Ltd v Phillips-Treby (2000) 100 IR 420 Austin v NF Importers Pty Ltd & Anor [2005] NSWIRComm 353 Blackadder v Ramsey Butchering Services Pty Ltd (2005) 139 IR 338 Bradley George Hosemans v Commissioner of Police (2004) 138 IR 159 Burge v NSW BHP Steel Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 325 Byrne v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 Caltex Petroleum Pty Ltd v Harmer (1999) 92 IR 264 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environmental Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Hollingsworth v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (1999) 47 NSWLR 151 Humphries v Cootamundra Ex-Services and Citizens Memorial Club Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 211 CASES CITED: Inspector Moore v Blacktown City Council (2003) 124 IR 59 King v State Bank of New South Wales (No 2) (2002) 126 IR 407 Knowles v Anglican Church Property Trust (No 2) (1999) 95 IR 380 Little v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2002) 112 IR 212 Martin Evans v NSW Police [2005] NSWIRComm 404 Metropolitan Meat Industry Board v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union, New South Wales Branch [1973] AR 231 Newton v NSW Police Service (1999) 87 IR 66 Nutshack Franchise Pty Ltd and Others v Smith and Another (1999) 90 IR 355 Perrott v XcelleNet Australia Ltd (1998) 84 IR 255 at 265 De Simone Consulting Pty Ltd v Ison (2000) 97 IR 478 Starr v Commissioner of Police (2001) NSWIRComm 226 Strathfield Group Ltd v Hall (2002) 121 IR 158 Van Huisstede v Commissioner of Police (2000) 98 IR 57