KURNELL PASSENGER & TRANSPORT SERVICE PTY LTD v RANDWICK CITY COUNCIL [2009] NSWCA 59

Reported Decision: 230 FLR 336

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: KURNELL PASSENGER & TRANSPORT SERVICE PTY LTD v RANDWICK CITY COUNCIL [2009] NSWCA 59

HEARING DATE(S): 6 February 2009

JUDGMENT DATE: 20 March 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; McColl JA at 6; Basten JA at 75

(1) Grant leave to appeal.

(2) Direct the applicant to file its amended notice of appeal within seven days. DECISION: (3) Dismiss the appeal.

(4) Order the applicant to pay the respondent's costs in this Court.

CATCHWORDS: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – judicial power – Chapter III of the Constitution – whether conferral of jurisdiction with respect to s 151Z(1)(d) indemnification proceedings invalid – limits on parties' ability to assess non-party – effect on court's ability to adjudicate matter – imbalance – institutional integrity – Kable principles - PROCEDURE – stays – whether appropriate to order – whether s 119 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) provides vehicle for order – requirement under Pt 23 of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) for party to submit to medical examination in certain circumstances – common law power to stay proceedings unless plaintiff submits to medical examination - STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – purposive interpretation – whether use of s 119 in s 151Z(1)(d) indemnity proceedings extraneous to statutory purpose of s 119 – whether capricious or unjust – legislative history of s 119 – interpretation of Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) and Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) together – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 2A(2), 4, 151Z(1)(d) – Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 60, 119, Ch 4 - STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – WorkCover Guidelines on Independent Medical Examinations and Reports (2006) – whether s 119(4) defines or controls operation of s 119(2) – whether Guidelines restrict operation of s 119 – whether Guidelines prevent use of s 119 in s 151Z(1)(d) proceedings - WORKERS' COMPENSATION – indemnification proceedings – rights and liabilities created by s 151Z(1)(d) – extent of indemnity – preconditions to s 151Z(1)(d) – purpose of s 151Z – legislative history of s 151Z – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z(1)(d) - WORKERS' COMPENSATION – indemnification proceedings – whether employer and putative tortfeasor can use s 119 of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) to obtain medical assessment of worker for purposes of s 151Z proceedings – purpose of ss 119 and 151Z – legislative history of s 119 – scope of s 119 – s 119 relates to claims for compensation – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 151Z(1)(d), Ch 4 – Workmen's Compensation Act 1897 (UK), s 6, Sch 1(11) – Workman's Compensation Act 1906 (UK), s 6, Sch 1(14) – Workman's Compensation Act 1910 (NSW), s 17(2), Sch 2(9) – Workers' Compensation Act 1926 (NSW), ss 51(1), 64(b) – Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), s 119 - WORDS AND PHRASES – "under this section"