Dibb v AVCO Financial Services Pty Ltd [1999] QIRC 53 (1999) 160 QGIG 203

► GOVERNfvfENT 12 !NDCSI'RlAL 01\ZETTE Raymond Dlbb .\ND AVCO Fimu1dal S<:nkcs Pty Ltu (No. B1723 i)f 1Y96J CO'v1M1SSIOXER BECHLY Cn:r.rq:,~•:1sation - Cornr01,;.ent oi Corripe;;-.nsati,)n .i\ttribuL,b1'~ to Pr:vatt. Di5u c,·unteU as i'2.rt oi nv~raH Compt>H"?,tivn p,_w~n::~e<l -·· ,\r,ni·rn·,r:01,, Ba,,,-:,1~ f\.""'f Re-o_peni~h_g \...1f },,",i;11 J.c;·~ 1999 Vabc:1.c i:'y 1hr, QGIG1 -- 1 of 2 -- Tfii.3 .m.ath:r Jv..,;; h.a.1 ~ lvng I11srory it h?tvln,5 t,ecn first d~te:rr1i1lf:J by .rne 0n i1' June l~J'i that },•fr f)~bb .shuu.id he v1rr~p._:.ns~uca ra.ther than r.:lusi.akd i:r. tLe pos1tion lr-:)T:~ \~ hic:h he V!ias d.i::;·~·nis::,.;:-:11.. Snh,:-e,'..iu~n~ tn fhai cle\~L":::..-1:. ~Jr D1bb initli1~el :;-;.;~, ~~1J] ,1.ppeat, anJ ether .matters hefo:·~~- :h~ President The tlst of Iht-.'ie w;:1.s reje~tt.:J by dt":c1;sj;.)c publi~:hed cm 9 IJt~-<.:en;b-~~r 199~ 15,9 {)blb :19 1 -. U1irlf'.g this period aue-:-:1pt5 h, d bei:.n n1adr er, cst~,.tiish the ba:-::is UJX)Tl which co1nrens.:-,.tlm1 3flould be ::r/cab.t:!d. .\'ir i.Jibb r:-.h>.sc-d in paruc:p::1te ir: this f"r.\."~~t,,,3S. On J,7 D\:',<:'e.n1h~r t99B \fr 1Jihb w:t.~ iniof:n,..d th·:1t u.a1~~~ he ;,1n.>''l"~~d ¼Tit.ten sehmi:r:~~•JllJ by 29 J;:~nnary lS-99 as to the an1vndt piopo'-'ed hy rhe Res~.f-:~id-.•-c.( th,;:•. C'onuni~3i~.n ·1_11:...1c.iJ <leten1,itle Lhr.:: hkttt.t~r. Dy {J'l£Tc~oniie1.cv <.;;f 20 Jan110.ry ! 9s;9 :vfr Dihb suugh~ 0.itJ:i;;-r that the u1at.tcr b:.:, n=•.o_pePeJ vr that lhe Cnm:rri,s,_,i,J,.,.1 refral.1:1 frorr1 Hukinf an or<l,:o:r 101 comper,.:;a.ticn because -~-i~,.-il acrino ,vas bcirg; t:o'."lt'.',n"'-.plated. !"1r D,bb also ,rkd,, V)mmcntary ou :h, ,r1anmm of "X<11pens,t1011 proposci h) tL.,,, RespondeL, Lui took the positi)L Lat ,n2 comm~rt:<ry should not bt i,egctrdt'A} a.~ d\.:quic:.sl,.,'.ilig ~o th~ <le...:iS:1on that ro:m.pf;:;._ns:ativn shouh~ be 1)rdercd r«d.ix'f tha.11 rein.statt.-ntehL P.ase S:dary SupeLann1.!atii"\n k'eJl\, illlhldL"cJ vehJClc .j.i6,i(J2. _:'he R·.:-spo1Hic:_1t i'i~s ;ilsv adv.lsi:'.-d. 1:..1e th,.1t the v;:;hicfo v,.-a0 p1.\P;ictect to :/\fr Ditb subsequent tc his LerrrJ.HJ1..tjon {_)fi J. fully in.aintanJed h:::.s!3 including fm;.l tv :·~c,~7c''"11h~r 1')'-;~1 <llid sini..:i; L"'l.a! date VritllfJUC the pr0visiou oi' fueL "'11c Re,pundt:7H ccllc~!lak, t/1a1 the financ'aJ b~ndit pF,V"r'cd by It rn this brhhn to ,late of adv:,x amounts,,:, ~QAJ•51 and thal tha: .1w0unt sinuld ''e dt-Juct~d froTn i,aH" of the t\.>ta1 c-n!p!oy1D':;rJ! cost refen\;ti to rt'h.;)vc- ::V:::r Ojbb Ina.lribiLeJ :hat hi,;; oribinal cun.tnict renmins iL cxist.enct; b&:J.u~~ h.:.. ha~ not r;;at~Ji-..:d the Rf'spond.jn(,\ reputhatlon of 1t He N-~ver he do;.;.s p1ovi<le a rz-S)XHiSe hJ rel;ut the dt~<ll1di01F' prn:pnscd by th.-c Re""pr-,ndt:nt ,vliich h:.:: ,;t1.tcs 1s not tr) Pt: taken a:i: any a'.-:tlaic,sc-e7i.Ct to tlH: :\':i-x rnnnth'.s con1i:-~~1i._;;r.Liv11 earher or-:.k~-ed hy U'-f:.. I h,.; ve dccid>;;:e1 t,_-, finalist.: the n1a.tt{-:r by Hr:_.-w de-termixting t '--aI!Je to be _phctd 0:~ tte salarv V-/}11;.;h ½t·:;uid have he-t:n paid ~L "the six mc:1t.h p;:riod S1:'t by Ei:• d~ b:-.irg !,h-:- appn.1r1r1.ai'C '.,,_,'lr:npe!1safhn1 tub;.~ p.:r'd Thr- i.<.u(,B ~n cont,si~_tj_.nn at.:: L1e V?Jnc plac.:,d o;~ the VFhhJe ~3 J, paxt uf the .~aJrt.ry u.nd tl'le dcc.tuctirn1 pt~)po.:;eJ forth~ valu~ cf -~.hr,.;, Vf:,h\cte nrovid0d t(; Mr l>ibh m1bset1rn"n,'. tr h,s !~rmina!!or,, f_jttl.;. :nf.;)!.1-n~t1,-,n fns h...A:"l.._ pro,.:frlt""d ash"' hi.."!\'-,-' tht.- .s~.hv:y pad.:,:--.g,;.;, -~'lith !C-l;'_pt'-Ct tu ti:1L v-.~hidc,, was a.s~c.ss~-ti, or the bush~e..:;:,s U:':..1~e or lirn.its o.u μn·/J.tc -1s.1.g:e tr:.at ffi;;,y 'lz:-•'f· b.-;,:m set. 1h:-:n--. i;:: r>> ~rahcat1f:,n t\a..t t+-__ e ...,,;.Jue of the ,,·e.h1d.e wa.":l a rnaa.::;r -Jf agr:cmern: het·,ve::·ri tt0; parties vrv,: t,-i t'!nn:ir1ari.u.n. A.u '!ppr0?ri2.,.~., nic1J;_ex1 ·of c0.lcu..iat1ng t.i1r:: v~d'tit' of a. 1n0i.r,r vehick a'!:', a vorupui10ut n-f salary w~s dek·r~1ine<l by tht l,Jl!'tt:di:::i~n h1<lustna_'! Rr-~~:.•ji:.1ns Co.::n·.-:U..':..<ou i"n ff. i·f. F,:,,,1-ir,g,1, v Kut1harlla:i]l':.)<ai. (~otmn.unity GL ►'i::rti/ni:Jnt (print Q 0:175). Th,~, rne-t.hoJ iD·,ol';,'~.1o the --~-ppli..:aGcil ,Jf a fonnuJa whi<..21 ta1.. t:~ ir:x,~-. cou_:'1d.::raticn arnu.ai tiisu-111L'f' t:--a?eH,~d_. _i-l(ivat~. ~irta7K-:-: t.ravdh~d a.-;-;d c0.st per k1Jo.n1?tre. Non-;:; oi this inf:)r:rn:\ti,.:n is avad:il:ile to n1e hut il is r~:ao;ron,ahl.e to -..:-stin ..at~- tha1 th.t· v~lue. ;..)f th.:. vi:hid~-prn;J.J,~<l t,.;, :Mr Dihh ·.vuuid he ~nb.'1;~.!1!!aUy )e,.;s rhan that propci.;;e~ Ly the. }(c;.,;;_p<YnJc.nt, Plac:nb iht: reduced ·vah..L,~ --,n tL:", v,::.hlde h-1.~; tL.;~ ~ffc.ct of ::educi.n~ the i,:alnt.: of th.:: _::;i~_,u f packap:e l1f'.JfXY:::,d ~nd 111..)o r~ducin~ -:..he J.n1ount d;.1t:.21t :·l J.S -d rkduction i°i)f H~t~ of ti;~ ,-·e-J1id~:; Sl!b.:esu.~r.t tl) l,;;:r,ninatir'n ~..fr IJ1.bh c;b}ed~ tu ,'\,Hy dedu<:t.10.n fr,r a -.:,'.tri.et.y 'Jf r~a~o.Hs ..~~S(".'!lt~·-JJ 1y te <l,) ,_.vith hi~ ;:.3_f.;e::rtit.1.n that the (·.ontract ,.1i. e1nμloyrnc:~nt reffw,]us ~-ufercP:ahJr-. Hv furth•.T .:t,<e~ th-:1t he h,"i ,1 m:tb.,;-r vehicle- au,~ La:., E:,n](cd n:.::ed o~- tju?_n,.:·iai at.pac1ty V.} !.;S-:i• e..i.ther veh1d :.. 1t •,1;ou1d sct'-tT, t~at the-Responder/..~1rr,p~y d1d u01 rec:1V,"~r tJv; vehid~ fru_n-1 'Ar f)fbb tvJ1en hi,;-: e711pk,y1nent 1.vas t,:~rr.11.:::.a~,:~d hv it. fher:: is no 1nfu.nnadcn bt:iore 1pe thu.t .i specific an~n;:r,;:.u1.t..J1t. \l,,·as cnttT~~r:i 1n:.o br.::t\\·t~n th~ rasti.-;s io f)!~.1vlde a coris~dt.;i~&.ii0n t,u Mr Dh)b v,.-,jt~i Lt'-Sfk~ct ti.) the t'enlclc 2s part of a <·r)DJ~)e;,~.-:1.fr:m package sr;.b'-e,ll·:'-:-1ll to tern:Uu,::.titm i"~.cvi~ion ot the -~'ehfdc uo ilu.s oa:::i::: r~o Joubc ha;, Y)I";'"'..e v.:::.lo•; to i\1.r Dihb On or_e. ~:11;:w i( c1Yt.;ld b:?. 7 (1id Lo nave a ic5sr,;r value Ulan tl::\t •N\ich nllght br G.~tdb1 ttt:d h 1 a..:: ~ μ.:tn nf >\. .~:1!~ry pa.:k.ag~- whc.rt. an f;H1.p!0y1nf'-n.t r~-li\1:i~.>n;,h.ip t~Dnt~ nncii. Thi:; V,'culd ().f cnur,::c d~-p·ouJ on th,e. U{(e, oi. tl-;e v~.hidi.,:. sir1c.:.; te.nni:-,.a.ticn •)f employrr~e·0.t. It ,vouici appea:. 1.-,n lvfr Dibb's statem.:n\ :¾at httk, tt-;:; W<-1.s in~'.de of the v-.~b.ide. 'D1e ve}nc'le- in -.~u.:~s:1cn wa.s a S1.a~1cn '\.V.:'. gon. Wh,;;;h.::r tl1dt type- of v~:hick was ~ov1d~,d fv.r hu,)i:ue.f,ls 0.r pc·~:son.,ll rea.soPs ~-s ~Jnkno\vn. Vlhik it is l..~pc:'-.r. r.0 the Re:s:pnncte.nt_ to ',\ffU.C ih:.tl payrr.entt rr:1.cle :-.1.1.b~equ<"nt t0 l~-tntio.a.ltun, eH:_h_,>;r b:; way uf .1n-:-in0;t.0,ry p1.yrn.c:T1£ or '!:r-f' 1l'•s1on oi a ben.cf't, 3toutd bf'. tl'\.kc-L luto a.-.,-c0un:t ~n d.1..:-te.rr;. •.-lnh.;.g the arnnunt (c nu\\,- be ord.ere:U, -Jv;rc j:3 at>.:,e-nt dH) i1~fun;.Jati0n rm \vbi~h ! ,i".<.Jl r~iy ~0 fi.-;. 4Il .;;appccprl.a.tf'- v~.t1e £Jfl ~1F v~t:ic1c a.;: ;•f part ~Jfth."! ..,ahry packag";, ln an tht: cln:,:.m.;t:-;"n,,·ies I prcoose tc; dls,,.. ·CJUnt tota!l;: the; VJ.h:c; of the v,:~h\d.::, 1-,oth for asse::-sr>.e __i1t :)f the vaiue ,f tb.::. a.1arv p~ickag.,:; ;;,nj .1ny dednctio-r, which might bt:. .ap_pi(l'ffat-, fnr u;:;e .;ubs~q1 u:~nx te 1.e-r::-r:.1lnatio.n. Ba~c: S.:dary. Supe.-Ia.nnuatlon fotai Salary S.5.2 79~ S36,l('t 12 Mnd1, J 999 t,..fr fhbt :.;ought that. I n:.ake no order as k1 th:: quantun1 of con1pen.-;ation to !a~ii;i2:_~ htigatio:) in an_ethcr ar~.a. 1~,3 d~c.!s_iv_n d~~--.;.rrni~i~.~--th~it c-.:1npensat1on be parl wa.:. i35~uu1 o.c. the 14th ;v{ay 1998. The above order .,;;in1ply i..ieuti;1es the va.h1~ t:..J be JscTihed tv .h-..: ,,_,on,pcn.sat.1on p.-'.e·.iUJtJy t>;sh,b'i~:hf'tl in iii.at- t(sr.us 1:ather th:1r1 d:..ALtr values. A~: to G1t; re,y_ui::-.?t tn ret.\Jt:;n ~h~ 1nattcer, tJ-1e_pn..tp::r GCJ..lf.l;C V/Olll.d h:~ for the Apphcan:. to m.a.-tke a :◊~n1ai_ ~~PPH,,:a_~ion Jn accor~4:~~t'.(' \r•·ith. tnv T.ud~1stri_Jl C:".)tU:t Ru~r.:S il:ad t.o rr--;.s;:·nf r:.pp:ropnate 1r;at:·rL:tl to jusufy ~ r:~0?cn1ng. Befrre ask.'pting tb.i.-; cotusc C{'nqucrat-'vu Ph0'.1ki he g1\~-li. tv estahk~hf'd pdn~tf,l~s reia:irg ~u H"ope1ilng which are ;.;nca.psulatr.d 1n the fo}jo--.,,'ing 1:.~Xtr<1rt frcrn a dc-cision by Bcugouc..' C. in the rnJ.tt. ..~r of tbt; Clerks' .. A..,ward llvtds and R~gis:e.rid CZubs Star-~ (E)9~ j i4i'S QGIG 2!'7_:1· "'Th~:cre ts ..1 ;:;tn..1L.g pubhc tnte1e;.:;t ]n ~-he tinality uf pl'o--~e, d.i.ng.s \Vhich hiJYC b--;en heard an.:-1 rl1 eter~ni11ed on tiu~_..,111:1·:ts aw:i tlus_. (-:'~~~1n~s:i00 11!~~_1n ~~ _pa.,-·t, rr:~:idt~:\Vldin t~a~ ~ si.gn~;ft"--:::=1-i1f re'.:15'0n b.'\S h.1 he vstabhfh.:~d !D justify a reopening. In tnc n1attet of th-.: i ,~C..f:)U!S Award•-- ,)i-~lfr (36 Q(1l \3 6 j -J a.t p 01 _-., 2-, t•u.d Be-ncr~ o! ili-..s C0rnTJnss1011 0a1J:---- "r'his .;__:unun.i.ssi.on hoJdi.: the str:Oiig view thal a ti;;rner which ha\ b~e.J:1 f:.dly argued by a.H tl::.-e parties. a.ad i;,r r2.sp0ct ot wtu,:;h a d'.::C~':;ion has bc;,:·:-e gl V(.;U on the- m::!Iit.~, .shculd oniy tx; r-:::oncncd 1f it can h0 :?b::.\.vn that sunae vital a1:.d relevant r:c.:jJ,;rhtl whi(;h ,va;i not avaib.bl~ :Cal tih" hearing. is _;iuw a"rnihib!T: and thaI the Conun.is ..;i ...,r; ha."i 1nade an oi;vio"us error or creat;:d cic&- anomaiit>B ·,)f has been in soc)e n~c1Ln~-:r rnisied i1., arrivin.g al its origin~ decision,' in/,....-.,: FFDFA tQ:.d_) (l 9S7) 126 ()GH.J 340 L"<k.:ynihan J.~ the: theL PresiO,::nt. nmde ~t plain that a r,:oper.ing of a procccdinr t!:;tvrn1u1e<l l.'IU fr,r~ rnf:"riL.<;' sh.ouJ<l not be·. grantbd umt.ss a ,,igni.ficaut. reason. ~::1r e.rtablishciL' ' . Appeart:mc1>.s~· - • "'11 R" l.Jihb O!' hi:- OWll h~h.ilf. • !vir L. [v1oioth~), ut LlvingslonGs 1 1\.ust.ralia, and 'Wi~h hi;n J\'ir W. Hickey ,,f H·i11 and f ay!r.,r Sdici.t..--:1~. 1or and on t.,~haJf of u~c- Re5;pnn<lent. -- 2 of 2 --