Learmont v Commissioner of Police [2016] NSWCA 137

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Learmont v Commissioner of Police [2016] NSWCA 137 Hearing dates: 23 March 2016 Decision date: 22 June 2016 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Ward JA at [2]; Sackville AJA at [101] Decision: Appeal and summons dismissed with costs. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – application for gratuity under Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act 1906 (NSW), s 12D – whether trial judge addressed the wrong question in seeking to identify the pathological consequences of injury – whether identification of "injury to which the claim relates" a question of fact or question of law – whether impermissible application by judge of own medical knowledge amounting to denial of procedural fairness Legislation Cited: Compensation Court Repeal Act 2002 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 (NSW), ss 142G, 142J, 142N Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW) Police Regulation (Superannuation) Act 1906 (NSW), ss 10B, 12D, 21 Superannuation Administration Act 1996 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 48 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), Sch 11 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 4(a), 9A, 66, 67 Cases Cited: Arian v Nguyen [2001] NSWCA 5 Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corp [1948] 1 KB 223 at 229 Chief Executive Officer, Department for Child Protection v Grinrod (No 2) [2008] WASCA 28; (2008) 36 WAR 39 Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2000] HCA 47; (2000) 203 CLR 194 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd [1996] HCA 36; (1996) 186 CLR 389 Commissioner of Police v Kennedy [2007] NSWCA 328 Department of Public Works v Morrow (1986) 5 NSWLR 166 Goodwin v Commissioner of Police [2010] NSWCA 239 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Singh [2014] FCAFC 1; (2014) 231 FCR 437 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; (2013) 249 CLR 332 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZDMS [2010] HCA 16; (2010) 240 CLR 611 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; (1999) 197 CLR 611 SAS Trustee Corporation v Pearce [2009] NSWCA 302 Strinic v Singh [2009] NSWCA 15; (2009) 74 NSWLR 419 Swift v SAS Trustee Corporation [2010] NSWCA 182 Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council [2001] HCA 12; (2001) 202 CLR 439 Texts Cited: M Aronson and M Groves, Judicial Review of Administrative Action (5th ed, 2013, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Learmont (Appellant) Commissioner of Police (Respondent) District Court of New South Wales (Second Respondent in 2016/00019224) (Submitting appearance) Representation: Counsel: T Ower (Appellant) Ms J Lonergan SC with MJ Gollan