Rapisarda v Commissioner of Police; Housego v Commissioner of Police; Sheehy v Commissioner of Police; McDonald v Commissioner of Police [2019] NSWCATAD 242

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Rapisarda v Commissioner of Police; Housego v Commissioner of Police; Sheehy v Commissioner of Police; McDonald v Commissioner of Police [2019] NSWCATAD 242 Hearing dates: 10-13 October, 16 October, 21 November 2017,21,22 May, 3 August 2018 Date of orders: 29 November 2019 Decision date: 29 November 2019 Jurisdiction: Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division Before: D Robertson, Senior Member Dr M Murray, General Member Decision: The proceedings are listed at 2pm on 10 December 2019 for the making of directions for the further conduct of the matters. Catchwords: HUMAN RIGHTS – Discrimination - Grounds – Sexual-orientation discrimination – Whether complaint of suspected drug use was made against applicant police officers on the ground of their homosexuality – Identification of relevant comparator – Whether officers were subjected to a detriment – Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 s 49ZG, s 49ZH

HUMAN RIGHTS – Legislation – Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) – Vicarious liability – Whether Police officers "employees" for the purposes of the Act – Whether Commissioner of Police liable for discriminatory acts of Police officer – Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 s 4B, s 53

HUMAN RIGHTS – Legislation – Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) – Defences – Whether Police officer under statutory obligation to lodge discriminatory complaint – Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 s 54

HUMAN RIGHTS – Discrimination – Victimisation – Whether making of complaint against Police officer and making adverse comments on application for promotion after Police officer had raised possibility that he had been the subject of discrimination constituted victimisation – Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 s 50 Legislation Cited: Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) Anti-Discrimination Amendment Act 1997 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW) Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Police Act 1990 (NSW) Police Regulation 2008 (NSW) Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No.2) 2015 (NSW) Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Allders International Pty Ltd v Anstee (1986) 5 NSWLR 47 Batchelor & Co Pty Ltd v Websdale (1963) 63 SR (NSW) 49 Beckett v State of NSW (No. 3) [2013] NSWSC 791 Bradshaw v McEwan (1951) 217 ALR 1 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Commissioner of Police v Eaton (2013) 252 CLR 1 Commissioner of Police v Russell (2002) 55 NSWLR 232 Cranbrook School v Woollahra Municipal Council (2006) 66 NSWLR 379 Department of Health v Arumugan [1988] VR 319 Dilworth v Commissioner of Stamps [1899] AC 99 Dutt v Central Coast Area Health Service [2002] NSWADT 133 Dutt v Central Coast Area Health Service [2003] NSWADTAP 3 Employment Services Australia v Poniatowska [2010] FCAFC 92 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 KLK Investments Pty Ltd v Riley (1993) 10 WAR 523 Lavery v Commissioner of Fire Brigades [2003] NSWADT 93 Little v The Commonwealth (1947) 75 CLR 94 Purvis v New South Wales (2003) 217 CLR 92 NSW Breeding and Racing Stables Pty Ltd v V & X [2005] NSWCA 114 Shellharbour Golf Club v Wheeler [1999] 46 NSWLR 253 State of New South Wales v Briggs [2016] NSWCA 344; 264 IR 309 State of Victoria v McKenna [1999] VSC 310; 140 IR 256 Trobridge v Hardy (1955) 94 CLR 147 Victims Compensation Fund v Brown (2002) 54 NSWLR 668 Waters v Public Transport Corporation (1991) 173 CLR 349 Webster v Lampard (1993) 177 CLR 598 Y Z Finance Co Pty Ltd v Cummings (1964) 109 CLR 395 Zisopoulos v Commissioner of Police [2018] NSWIRComm 1011 Texts Cited: Pearce, DC and Geddes, RS, Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 8th ed (2014) Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2017/00100954: Steven Rapisarda (Applicant) Commissioner of Police, NSW :Police Force (Respondent)