Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd v Alexandra Mexon as Administrator for the Estate of the Late Ryan Messenger [2018] NSWCA 178

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd v Alexandra Mexon as Administrator for the Estate of the Late Ryan Messenger [2018] NSWCA 178 Hearing dates: 25 May 2018 Date of orders: 16 August 2018 Decision date: 16 August 2018 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Gleeson JA at [16]; Payne JA at [17]; Sackville AJA at [105]; Simpson AJA at [113]; Decision: (1) Appeal allowed;

(2) Set aside the order made by the primary judge on 22 November 2017 and in lieu thereof make the following orders:

(a) Application allowed;

(b) Set aside the decision of the Workers Compensation Commission Appeal Panel dated 27 February 2017;

(c) Order that the application to the Workers Compensation Commission Appeal Panel be dismissed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – judicial review – validity of decision – whether deceased was entitled to compensation for permanent impairment pursuant to the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) in circumstances where death followed inevitably and within a few minutes of injury

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – meaning of "permanent impairment" – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 66

WORDS AND PHRASES – "permanent impairment" – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 66

WORKERS COMPENSATION – entitlement to compensation for permanent impairment – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), s 66 Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 35 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 2A, 4, 9, 22, 25, 26, 65, 66 Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2001 (NSW) Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 3, 293, 322, 324, 326, 327, 376, Ch 7, Pt 7 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Rutland [2015] NSWCA 328; 73 MVR 211 Ansett Australia v Dale [2001] NSWCA 314 Basin Sands Logistics Pty Ltd v Duskovic as administrator of the estate of the late David John Duskovic [2016] NSWCCMA 91 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay (2012) 248 CLR 500; [2012] HCA 32 Bourke v State Rail Authority (NSW) [1999] NSWCC 39 Bresmac Pty Ltd v Starr (1992) 29 NSWLR 318 Carr v Western Australia (2007) 232 CLR 138; [2007] HCA 47 Collector of Customs v Agfa Gevaert (1996) 186 CLR 389; [1996] HCA 36 Department of Agriculture (NSW) v Allen (2000) 20 NSWCCR 314 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holding Ltd (2012) 250 CLR 503; [2012] HCA 55 Hillier v Gosford Shire Council (Compensation Commission (NSW), 22 June 1998, unrep) McDonald v Director General of Social Security (1984) 1 FCR 354; [1984] FCA 59 NRMA Insurance Ltd v Ainsworth [2011] NSWCA 292; 59 MVR 195 TNT Australia Pty Ltd v Horne, As Executrix of the Estate of the Late Douglas Horne (1995) 36 NSWLR 630 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Hunter Quarries Pty Limited ACN 093 914 937 (Appellant) Alexandra Mexon as Administrator for the Estate of the Late Ryan Messenger (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Kirk SC / P Herzfeld (Appellant) M Robinson SC / C Tanner (Respondent)