New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union (on behalf of Grose) and Griffith City Council (2006) NSWIRComm [2006] NSWIRComm 1137

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION: New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union (on behalf of Grose) and Griffith City Council (2006) NSWIRComm [2006] NSWIRComm 1137

APPLICANT New South Wales Local Government, Clerical, Administrative, Energy, Airlines & Utilities Union (on behalf of Brendan James Grose) PARTIES: RESPONDENT Griffith City Council

FILE NUMBER(S): 2916 of 2006

CORAM: Bishop C

CATCHWORDS: Termination of employment - allegations of theft/misconduct by member of public - investigation by Council under ICAC Act - Council determined misconduct and breaches of Council's Code - misconduct denied by applicant - absence of proper procedures and policies - procedural issues raised - whether misconduct occurred - harshness of penalty - reinstatement or re-employment sought. Held - Improper conduct and some misconduct and breaches of Council's code but not sufficient to warrant termination - fundamental procedural flaws - demotion appropriate - re-employment ordered with continuity of service from date of termination - limitation on backpay.

Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Relations Act 1996 Local Government Act 1993

Antonakopoulos v State Bank (1999) 91 IR 385 Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union, NSW Branch v Westport Bowling Club Ltd (2001) NSWIRComm 2005 Bankstown City Council v Paris (1999) 100 IR 363 Burns and Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (T3496, 21 November 2000). Busways v Johnson (1994) 55 IR 255 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Electricity Commission of New South Wales t/as Pacific Power v Crump (1993) 48 IR 296 Commonwealth Steel Company Limited v Ward (unreported, Matter No IRC 3144 of 1993, 16 Decemfber 1994) D Stroud and David Jones Ltd (PR925084, 26 November 2002) Effem Foods Pty Limited t/as Uncle Ben's of Australia v Urban (1998) 81 IR 341 Franklins Ltd v Webb (1996) 72 IR 257 Hill v Department of Juvenile Justice (2000) NSWIRComm 128 Howarth v Linfox Armaguard Pty Limited (2005)NSWIRComm 1170 IGA Distribution Pty Limited v Moses (No.2) (2002) 114 IR 307 (John Lysaght (Australia) Limited and Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia, New South Wales Division & Ors (1972) AILR 517) CASES CITED: Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Little v Commissioner of Police (No 2) (2002) NSWIRComm 52 New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees (on behalf of Natoli) v New South Wales Fire Brigade (2005) NSWIRComm 440 Nguyen v Australian Postal Corporation (Larkin C, AIRC, PR913694, 5 February 2002) Nicholson v Heaven and Earth Gallery Pty Ltd (1994) 126 ALR 233. Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 164 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Makers Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW v Gartrell White (No 3) (1990) 35 IR 70 P A Smith and Yipirinya School Council Inc (PR8676, 6 February 1998) Paul Haskayne and Town of Vincent (PR952168, 28 September 2004) Perkins v Grace Worldwide (Aust) Pty Ltd (1997) 72 IR 186 P T Wilson and Australian Taxation Office (PR901127, 26 February 2001) 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 Rapp v Wauchope RSL Club Ltd 81 IR 116 Sams v Contact Point International Pty Ltd (2001) NSWIRComm 18 Transport Workers' Union of Australia v National Dairies Limited (1994) 57 IR 186 Wang v Crestell Industries Pty Ltd (1997) 73 IR 454 at 463-4 Zinteschenko (nee Charles) and Alfred Tallon Real Estate Pty Ltd (PR940237, 5 November 2003)