Slaveski v Marrickville Council [2015] NSWIRComm 1027

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Slaveski v Marrickville Council [2015] NSWIRComm 1027 Hearing dates: 28, 29 July; 17, 18 August 2015 Date of orders: 11 December 2015 Decision date: 11 December 2015 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Newall C Decision: Application dismissed Catchwords: UNFAIR DISMISSAL – misconduct – contrivance of work for employee's benefit – employee less than candid with employer about work and absences – honesty to employer part of employment relationship – not open to employees to contrive work systems for their benefit - dismissal not harsh, unreasonable or unjust – application dismissed EVIDENCE – rule in Jones v Dunkel – absence of a witness must be explained by evidence – criteria for determining which party would 'naturally' call a witness – no evidence of reason for failure to call – inference drawn Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 s.38 Industrial Relations Act 1996 s.84, 88. Cases Cited: Capral Aluminium v Sae (1997) 75 IR 65 Concut Pty Ltd v Worrell (2000) 103 IR 160 Electricity Commission of NSW t/a Pacific Power v Nieass & ors (1985) 81 IR 46 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Krstic, Zreika v Marrickville Council [2015] NSWIRComm 39 O'Donnell v Reichard [1975] VR 916 Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191 RHG Mortgage Limited v Rosario Ianni [2015] NSWCA 56 Rowell v Larter (1986) 6 NSWLR 21 West v Government Insurance Office (NSW) [1981] HCA 38; (1981) 148 CLR 62 Westpac Banking Corporation v Velingos [2011] NSWSC 607 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Louis Slaveski (Applicant) Marrickville Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Moore (Applicant)