Hee v State Transit Authority of New South Wales [2019] NSWCA 175

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hee v State Transit Authority of New South Wales [2019] NSWCA 175 Hearing dates: 15 October 2018 Decision date: 17 July 2019 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; White JA at [36]; Simpson AJA at [117] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Remit the proceedings to the Workers Compensation Commission for rehearing or redetermination of the appellant's claim in accordance with the reasons of the majority of the Court. 3. Respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: WORKERS COMPENSATION – Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) – construction of s 38A – where appellant a worker with highest needs –whether arbitrator made finding that appellant able to return to pre-injury employment – whether appellant entitled to compensation under s 38A Legislation Cited: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 33, 34 Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 9, 32A, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 38A, 43, 44B, 44C, 44I, 65, 66A, Pt 3 Div 2 Workers Compensation Amendment Act 2015 (NSW), s 2, sch 2 Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2012 (NSW), s 2, sch 1, sch 2 Workers' Compensation Act 1926 (NSW), s 11 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW), ss 352, 353 Cases Cited: AAI Ltd t/as GIO as agent for the Nominal Defendant v McGiffen [2016] NSWCA 229 Arnotts Snack Products Pty Ltd v Yacob (1985) 155 CLR 171; [1985] HCA 2 Dranichnikov v Minister for Immigration [2003] HCA 26; (2003) 77 ALJR 1088 Eraring Energy v Brownlie [2008] NSWWCCPD 42 Inco Europe Ltd v First Choice Distribution [2000] 1 WLR 586 Kesen v Luke Singer Pty Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 566 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 8 Sabanayagam v St George Bank Ltd [2016] NSWCA 145 Speirs v Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales [2011] 81 NSWLR 348; [2011] NSWCA 206 Tan v National Australia Bank Ltd [2006] NSWWCCPD 115 Tan v National Australia Bank Ltd [2008] NSWCA 198; (2008) 6 DDCR 363 Taylor v The Owners – Strata Plan No 11564 (2013) 83 NSWLR 1; [2013] NSWCA 55 Taylor v The Owners – Strata Plan No 11564 (2014) 253 CLR 531; [2014] HCA 9 The King Island Company Ltd v Deery [2005] NSWWCCPD 1 Warkworth Mining Ltd v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Wentworth Securities Ltd v Jones [1980] AC 74 Williams v Metropolitan Coal Ltd (1948) 76 CLR 431; [1948] HCA 8 Texts Cited: Explanatory note to the Workers Compensation Amendment Bill 2015 (NSW) Explanatory note to the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 (NSW) New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 5 August 2015 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Hee (Appellant) State Transit Authority of New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: BG McManamey (Appellant) SL Flett and Dr S Blount (Respondent)