State of NSW (NSW Police Force) v Whitfield (EOD) [2012] NSWADTAP 27

Administrative Decisions Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: State of NSW (NSW Police Force) v Whitfield (EOD) [2012] NSWADTAP 27 Hearing dates: 17 and 18 May 2012 Decision date: 25 July 2012 Before: Judge K P O'Connor, President G Furness SC, Judicial Member J McClelland, Non-judicial Member Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Orders of Tribunal set aside. 3. Registrar to fix a date, in consultation with the parties, for the hearing of oral submissions as to what further orders for the disposal of the proceedings should be made. Catchwords: EQUAL OPPORTUNITY - Age Discrimination - Conduct of police constable - Tribunal finding of liability and award of damages - Appeal - whether 'service' - comparator - protected characteristic - judicial notice - causation - drawing of inferences - held error in that regard - assessment of damages for psychological harm - expert evidence. Appeal allowed. Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, ss 49ZYA, 49 ZYN. Legislation Cited: Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 Evidence Act 1995 Police Act 1990 Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 Commissioner of Police v Estate of Russell [2001] NSWSC 745 Commissioner of Police v Mohamed [2009] NSWCA 432 Commonwealth Shipping Representative v P & O Branch Service [1923] AC 191 Farah v Comr of Police of Metropolis [1998] QB 65 (CA) Gurnett v Macquarie Stevedoring Co Pty Ltd (1955) 72 WN (NSW) 261 Hall v Sheiban (1989) 20 FCR 217 Howe v NSW Farmers Association [2010] NSWADT 101 IW v City of Perth [1997] HCA 30; 191 CLR 1 Makita (Aust) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Purvis v State of New South Wales (Department of Education and Training) (2003) 217 CLR 92 Richards v Commissioner of Police [2010] WASAT 115 Thompson v Big Bert Pty Ltd t/as Charles Hotel [2007] HCA 1978 Virgin Blue v Hooper [2007] QSC 75 Walker v State of New South Wales [2003] NSWADT 13 Waters v Public Transport Corporation [1991] HCA 49; 173 CLR 349 Whitfield v State of New South Wales (NSW Police Force) [2010] NSWADT 284 Whitfield v State of NSW (NSW Police Force) [2011] NSWADT 265 Category: Principal judgment Parties: State of NSW (NSW Police Force) (Appellant) Keith Whitfield (Respondent) Representation: Counsel M Seck (Appellant) N Poynder (Respondent) Henry Davis York (Appellant) Legal Aid NSW (Respondent) File Number(s): 119056 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9108 Citation: Whitfield v State of NSW (NSW Police Force) [2011] NSWADT 265 Date of Decision: 2011-11-15 00:00:00 Before: Equal Opportunity Division File Number(s): 101068