State of New South Wales v NSW Nurses' Association [2012] NSWCA 179

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: State of New South Wales v NSW Nurses' Association [2012] NSWCA 179 Hearing dates: 8 May 2012 Decision date: 20 June 2012 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Basten JA at [41]; Hoeben JA at [42] Decision: Application dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW - Declaratory jurisdiction of Industrial Relations Court - Declaration of contractual right to voluntary redundancy payment - whether misinterpretation of contract - contractual principles - anticipatory breach - remedies.

INDUSTRIAL LAW - Declaratory jurisdiction of Industrial Relations Court - Declaration of contractual right to voluntary redundancy payment - misinterpretation of contract - whether jurisdictional error. Legislation Cited: Industrial Relation Act 1996, s 6, s 10, s 146, s 154, s 179, Ch 3 Supreme Court Act 1975, s 75 Cases Cited: Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission and Others [2000] HCA 47; (2000) 203 CLR 194 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163 Foran v Wight [1989] HCA 51; (1989) 168 CLR 385 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited [1972] HCA 61; (1972) 127 CLR 421 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Mahoney v Lindsay (1980) 55 ALJR 118 McDonald v Dennys Lascelles [1933] HCA 25; (1933) 48 CLR 457 Neeta (Epping) Pty Limited v Phillips [1974] HCA 18; (1974) 131 CLR 286 Peter Turnbull & Co Pty Limited v Mundus Trading Co (Australasia) Pty Limited [1954] HCA 25; (1954) 90 CLR 235 Re Australian Workers' Union; Ex parte Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union [2002] FCAFC 150; (2002) 120 FCR 527 Category: Principal judgment Parties: State of New South Wales (Appellant) NSW Nurses Association (First Respondent) Industrial Court of NSW (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel JJ Fernon SC and AM Mitchelmore (Applicant) M Gibian (Second Respondent) Solicitors Maddocks Lawyers (Applicant) New South Wales Nurses Association (Second Respondent) File Number(s): 2011/299448 Decision under appeal Citation: [2011] NSWIRComm 111 Date of Decision: 2011-08-19 00:00:00 Before: Boland J, Walton J, Haylen J File Number(s): IRC 163 of 2010