Paula Lee v Energy Australia (No 4) [2011] NSWIRComm 120

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Paula Lee v Energy Australia (No 4) [2011] NSWIRComm 120 Hearing dates: 25 May and 24 June 2011 Decision date: 02 September 2011 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Walton J, Acting President; Staff J; Macdonald C. Decision: 1. Leave to appeal is granted. 2. The appeal is dismissed. 3. The matter is referred to Macdonald C to determine the proceedings in IRC 1371 of 2009 in accordance with this decision with expedition. Catchwords: APPEAL - interlocutory decision - question of admission of evidence in remitter proceedings - leave to appeal - interlocutory appeals deprecated - exception to general approach in interlocutory appeals - question of admissibility may determine application - proper administration of justice - leave granted - principles regarding remitter proceedings - determination not require application of principles associated with reopening - proper question whether leave should be granted to admit further evidence in interests of justice - errors in first instance proceedings - failure to give adequate reasons - errors of fact - question whether appeal should be upheld - whether Full Bench should exercise discretion regarding admission of evidence - operation of s 163 of Act - application of provision not bound by rules of evidence - meaning 'equity, good conscience and substantial merits of case' - application of such principles regarding admission of evidence - consideration of relevant factors as to admission of evidence applying Walker Corporation - prejudice and harshness - whether tactical decision - nature of proceedings - whether adequate explanation for not calling evidence in original proceedings - evidence should be admitted - orders confirmed for reasons other than given by Commissioner - appeal dismissed - referred to Macdonald C with order for expedition Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Industrial and Employers Relations Act 1994 (SA) Industrial Code 1967 (SA) Industrial Relations Act 1996 Industrial Relation Commission Rules 1996 Industrial Relations Commission Rules 2009 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Limited v Philip Morris Inc (148 CLR 170 AON Risk Services Australia Limited v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57 Ainger v Coffs Harbour City Council [2005] NSWCA 424 Bewley v Linfox Interstate Transport (1998) 85 IR 135 Caltex Petroleum Pty Limited v Harmer (1999) 92 IR 264 Crewdson v NSW Department of Community Services [2003] NSWIRComm 417; (2003) 131 IR 217 Coal & Allied Mining Services Pty Ltd v Lawler [2011] FCAFC 54; (2011) 192 FCR 78 Colliery Employees' Federation v. Northern Colliery Proprietors' Association [1904] AR (NSW) 182 Drake Personnel Ltd t/a Drake Industrial v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Electrical Contractors Association of NSW v Electrical Trade Union of Australia NSW Branch [2003] NSW IRComm 404 Fletcher Construction Australia Limited v Lines MacFarlane & Marshall Pty Limited (No.2) (2002) 6 VR 1. General Motors Holden Pty Limited v Bowling (1976) 12 ALR 605 Gerlach v Clifton Bricks Pty Limited (2002) 209 CLR 478 Griggs v Noris Group of Companies [2006] SASC 23; (2006) 148 IR 427 H.G. Collett Pty Ltd v Alsop & Alsop (1982) 49 SAIR 309 Heidt v Chrysler Australia Limited (1976) 13 ALR 365 House v King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Housing Commission of NSW v Tatmar Pastoral Company (1983) 3 NSWLR 378 Lord v Flight Centre Limited (No 2) [2006] NSWIRComm 282; (2006) 156 IR 420 Lovell v Lowell (1950) 81 CLR 513 McCarthy v McIntyre [2000] FCA 1250 Metrocall Inc v Electronic Tracking Systems Pty Limited (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm 260; (2000) 102 IR 309 Murphy v Overton Investments Pty Limited (2004) 216 CLR 388 Mosca v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW [2007] NSWLEC 79 Monier PGH Holdings Limited v Horsey (1998) 86 IR 63 Ng v North Coast Area Health Service & Anor [2008] NSWIRComm 91 Paula Lee and EnergyAustralia [2010] NSWIRComm 1016 Public Service Board of NSW v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656 QBE Insurance Limited v Switzerland and Insurance Workers Compensation (NSW) Limited (1996) 134 ALR 433 Re Pochi and Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1979) 26 ALR 247 Re the Will of FB Gilbert (dec) (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Limited (1987) 10 NSWLR 247. Urban Transport Authority of NSW v Nweiser (1992) 28 NSWLR 471 Walker Corporation Pty Limited v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority [2009] NSWCA 178; (2009) 168 LGERA 1 Walkley v. Dairyvale Co-operative Ltd (1972) 39 SAIR 330 Webb v Goulburn Masonic Village (2004) 136 IR 309 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Coffey Engineering Pty Limited (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 319 Wright v Australian Broadcasting Commission [1977] 1 NSWLR 697 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Paula Lee (Appellant) Energy Australia (Respondent) Representation: J Trew QC (Appellant) J S Darams of counsel (Respondent) Toomey Pegg (Appellant) Freehills (Respondent) File Number(s): IRC 311 of 2011 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9102 Citation: Paula Lee v Energy Australia (No 2) [2011] NSWIRComm 1014 Date of Decision: 2011-03-23 00:00:00 Before: Bishop C File Number(s): IRC 1371 of 2009