Dalton v Magna Pacific Pty Ltd [1995] QIRC 245 (1995) 149 QGIG 927

926 ME T I ND US TRIA L GAZETT E QUEE rsLA D GOVER 12 1 Jul y. 1995 21 July , 19951 Q EE, SLA. D GOVER1 ~1E T I ND ' TRIAL GAZETTE 927 fllclll\tr1ctl /(da11 011, t, I /'JIJII '· '.!'>5 Jpphl,l llllll lor rc1t1'l,IIClllc111 fin .in \n1h11m I >.1l!t111 \ 1, t;?lla l'ac llk l' l) J ld t \n Ill H ,,f f(J<J_,, I 11\1:>ll\l., IO" R Ill 00 \11 11 I I> I lt,1111,,al I cnnina1tun , \, hitr, 11c d :> t.111c r I cn 11111~11011 I ,,und 10 he• lla~c<l Cln Operational Rc ,1uircrncm, , 291C2)(JJ 1>1,1111".tl I lar,h. l "niti-1 ttr I '11rc:L,o n,1hlc - Add t1 1unal I our \\ w b Rc<lund.mc) l',t) mcn1 •\\\ ,trt.lc<l In th1, math:r l\1 r lln.111 \ 111hun) l>a hon h,1' ,uuo:ht rc11h1,1te111c111 In ht- li1nncr rn,111<111 nl .. J cchnical \1:m a!?c ,.-· "1th l\1a μ11.1 l'at Ilic l't) I 1<.l I\ l r I l,t ltnn " ;1, ernplo) ctl h, th.: cmplo) er l'>t:l\\c'\:11 • I l1tl) 111X9 .rnJ 17 Janu.1r) 11111.~. \l r I "itt)!,ton.-. "ho rcpr.-,cnted lhe cm p in) er 1ttl11nncd me th.,t th.: 1cnnin:11ion "•'' hn,cd upon the t1pc1a ti u11JJ rcq11m;mcn1s ol •l,c cmplo)cr, 1111,lt·na l-. mi• e,1ahla,h111..:n1 or -en Ill I 2 '>11 I )(h)(ii)) 111 tha1 Mr l),11t,m ·., p11,i11on hcca nt c rc<l ,m da m. It "·" put thJt the rcdund,111e) occurred on an:011111 of ,1 llll\lttrc ol I i.h .,nd cir.:11111,t.tntc, ·'""L'1.11cJ \\llh .1 'lj.:1tili,,1111 te<luc111111 m 11' 1,11,111 ," t1pL' 1.i11111 h h,,th 111 i.m1 , of "11t 1111 c .mt.l 111 a μc·ow,1phical ,,·,i-c. It '"" put th,t• tit.: \\or!.. ,d1id1 \lr l>,,lton ti-i:J to 1111J.:n.1!..c h.1,l reduced tn , 111 c,1.:111 that the "t•r I.. could h.: c1•11\ enicn1I~ d, 111 , I~ .1• 111111,11.h: t'll1t1rac101 :111 0 th, 11 1h1, \\url-. "•" t11'1cr1.•<l 111 \l r Daito, I 11rtha. \11 I "111i-:,11111..: put thal th..: ti11 .111c1:tl pllSJ11011 of 1lw c111pl11) 1.1 lll'cdcd 111 he t,11..en 11110 ~cL:01111 1 in tlch:nnm1ng ,, hcrher 1h,: 1<.l 1ri,h11ll\ p,1~111c111, 111.iJe 10 \fr 1>.1 1 1011 \\,: r,: lair ., ntl r.::"'" ,11>1.: 111 1h~· ...:u1,.·urn, 1arH..i.:, Jn ur<lcr hi ,11p1i.1tt lhc ,c cllntcn r11ms \ lr I " 11 1i;,1u 11c dr,;\\ ,., 1,k11c1. 11,,111 \Ii ,\llatt R,1dlc, (he· \l an.Jj!IIII! l >11,·,·1..r ol \1a 211a I',, Ilic I lulJ111g, I ld . :111J \l r I cun l"u11111)!h ,1rn. (11:ncr,11 \1 ,111.1μcr ul \l.1 •1.1 l',1,tlic l't ) I td I .ich 111 rhc.,c !' c·n 1lc111rn !!•" c c, iJe ni.:e ,1s ttt th~ \.·h;in.!~ in the nJt11rc ol th~ lOJtlJlan, ·, t'~•ratin11, 111 rc~,:nl ~ ~a"' ,,111c.:c·11 1r,11mg on product I~1x:. , ulumc .111J prnl i1a hih11 ll11 ~ l'\ hkncc pn>,-Cflll·d :1 ,aJ an J ,,,n ~ tak I 11nh..:1. c:ach 11f1hcm !!u, cc , r<lcmc a, H• thc n,lltni: of thc d util', puf11rmnl h~ \ lr Dalt,,r1 <lur111i: hi, u11plo)111c111 and III the L;he 11I \ lr ( 011111)!ham. thc d1lhcuh1c, 1, hii.:h h,uf h,·cn ,· ,pcnc n, .: d 111 h,I\ :n;! \lr Dalton p..:rhum h1, J111ic, ,·,,rnpctcntl) . 111 lhc ,:,11·111 1h.11 hh J111i,:, hat.I had Ill Ii.: ,an«l 11,cr 11111c. In h-: l.111. mui.:h u.- lh, ',111,11in11 ,1lso h.1tl to du "1th d1.111ge, rn 1h c t·t, mpan) · ~ <•p ,: r,tti< •n , hut ·t1- ,1,1tt,1I d1,111g,:., ,,01:l <l h,1,c hccn d1ll.:1cnt 11 the ,•omp.111~ h.t.l h, ·11 hap1Hcr "11h \l r 1>.1lt011 ·, p.;rfim11,111c .: \fr < ·,,nrn;.th,1111 al-t> i:, 1, c c, 1d~11L·.: tu th( ( om1111"11,n th,11 tit, p11 " rnn rhat lht• tt•mp,rn) had 111mc 111 111 J J1111ar~ J<J9, cau ,c•d hnn tt, rc\il'\\ the 11,llllll' ;!It.I rJng, Ill d1111c, \\htd1 \\O:fc ,·,pcL:lcd too- un.1,n,tl-.cn h~ \lr D.1lt011 and that h, 1111'11tc·,·s,folh ,tllcmptcd 10 h,n · \1r l>,1h11n ,1g1 c,· 111 ,1 d1,11111c 111 h1, dutu:, \l r < 0 11111).!ll.1111 , ,., iJcncc "a, 1hat lhe un,u , tt:s,l\il llJ l\ trl.' 0 1 th" d1Sc·n,.-ion c,lthtJ hrrn 1t1 r,:ach J <lcci,11,11 on !he Sdlllt.: da) 19 lan u ar~ l Ill r.:cnmmc·nJ tu th e \I Jn.1ging l>m:ctor. \l r Radle~. ,1 d1111cc nl thrc ..: opt1111, i 11 c lu d111g : ma l.. 111 g Mr l)altt,11 rcd 11 11dan 1: "dc1110 1ini;'' ,\fr f) , d1011 . or 111,1 1..m g \l r l>,1hon rcdund,1111 l>ut oflcnn.i l11111 .1 i.:ontr.,ct lor r,'pJ.r ,111d 111,11111.:nancc on an llll ur l) h,..,i, In rc~pon,..: In a rc q111;:,I lrn111 \lr R:idlc,· 1hat ht: mak ,l particul.ir n.:,nmm,:nd,1111111 . \ lr ( nr:mgh.im rci.:ommcnd~tl (on 11 J,mll.tf) I th,: !l11r<l , ,t th.: .1hm c np1i1111, . , i/ 111.1k 111 g Mr Dalton rcdunJ,rn t hut nflcrin )! hm1 l',h u.il \\o,'i.. r.:pJ1rtn1? ,mJ ma1111a,nmt= Leen.nu machrnc, On 17 lanu,1ry \lr Rad!..:_, c,um· in liorn annu.il 1..: ,1\ 1.' L11 mc·cl \11 D,tlton in the prc,cnc·.: nl \l r C:1mmgh,un anJ. Jlter c,pl.11•1i11/! to h1111 th,· u1111pu11~ · ., prcdica m crH " ith ri.: s pccl In rn li 1c1 11 g , ,tl .:, , 1•lu 111c,. 111limn..:d \l r l>Jhnn th ,11 the <UlllJl,lll) c,1uld 1111 ln•i i:cr .ilh,rJ J lt1 1. 11111c t.:dinrcr,tn In re,p<,nx tu 1111, \l r DJlt11n i, Jllq!cJ ltl It;!\,· ,ai,I th.it ,,, u11d c r,l<l11d thi s ,i t11a11un :111u lhu1 " "c ·r1.: :111 hig 1111)~.. 111 ,Ul>\, cr lP \f r Dahnn ·s mquir) ,,, 111 \\hen hl' ,,nuld Ii.: !ini,h11,g \lr R,1dl.:~ .,J, bc<I th,ll he ,,t••ilLI h..: p.ud 111 li eu o f nt•l1c i.: am.I th.11 h,: e1 •t1ld lin" h up 111 unctlia1c l) . l\1r Radle) ·, .:, id c11,c "•'' Lh ,H he . lf ,11 nllcrcJ \l r D alwn \\Ori. on a t.i,ual r.1tc fl,L,1, 1cp.1iri11 μ 111,1d11n..:, rt the same rm c lh,1 1 an oub id,· org:1111,a t 11111 haJ t1111H,·d a nd 11ta 1 i\1 , IJJfton ", ,llc,?,tl to ha,,: ,,ud th,11 he \\nuld "thin l. ,1f~111111'" /\lr l> cthon· , e \ iJ cnt:e pa ints a ,er~ c.J1lli:rl.'nl p11,i 111111 \hh1111 gh cnn1..c<ling the rc·JuccJ ,ak, "'' ,me. pr.o<l 1c1 mi, .111d i;engrJph1t.1I 1c1n111r). Mr llal 111n·s l'' itlcncc "•" that hi: hud ht:.:11 an c"cm ial ernpln) c·..: ,, ith 111 1h.: organt-JIIOII ,111cc h" tnmm,·ncemcnl 11 " c, 1dc11.:c " ., ~ thJt he "a, r..:,ptm,ihlc li'T L',l,thli,hing the \1 hnk p1,,d11n i1111 si:c1ion al \1Jgn:, 1' ;1c11ic . indu di n;: Ji:,1i:11111g t he l,11..1h11,·, h1rill)! ,111<l 1ramm!! ,1111ahlc ,1,11/'. pi ) ,1,-,1!1) n~.m11,1111111g ..ill nl the n,mpan~ ·s c,1uipnll'nt : md anc 1ll 11ry itc·m, ,ui.:h a, t:ornprt',,or,. \;1~w11n f)llfll[h. ;ur•<.nnd11ion1•1!.!. ~11.tlu_, umu,•I <le, i..:, ,111J 1.t1ntp111cr ') ,tc'nh \t r l>.th,,n , C\ 1J..:1h.~ \\.h al,o ,k·,1μ111..'d !t• ,h11\\ ~h.: ( 11111 mi"11 "1 lh,ll he lrml rh c ~~1 II, 111 i.: ,111 1in 11 0• 111 he i: 111p ln_, ..:d hy 1l1c cmplo~cr 111 1•thu- po,11io11, and th.11 lhc ,·111pl,1)~r "·" \H1111~ 111 111.1l..111g 11, J.:u,1011 tn 1cnn111,111: h1111 ,thi.:,,J ,,1 111t\rc rcc,· 111 1~ c11 1pl ms·u p ..: rs 1111, . par1 in il :or l.' \1 r l!ud 1cc ~1:, l'rndut·linn \1 ,111 .. ,_,. \1r l>alt,,11 a l,, , h~d ., J 1l lcrertt 11 c \\· 0 1 th,.: 11 1.:,.: 1111!! th riclh ickrrc·d 11, .ih<,,c) hi:l\\ l'Cll he• JnJ \l r C11nr11;!h,1111 1111 <t J.111•1,,1~ "l.nc ,1it,rn,1m c du11,:, \\,:re J1-.11,wd \1 1 I >ah, •II , , 1c1, OI Ih" mc,: 1i nJ! """ th.11 th <.: (JC•ni:, al Ma nage, had ··, cr h alh u! tac:h·,J' hin• 111 rep.ml tt• h,,,, h.:""' not ,.,11,JicJ \\Ith th.: "•1~ thJI \11 ll .1h111 "•'' Jo111 g hi-Jllh ,lll d 1h,11 h ,.: 1,;1111cd IP dc 11111t,.: 111m 111 ai1, \\ l.'I lu the l' r11d11,·111,n \I Jnfcr. \ 1, Buchc,l.t'r. \fr J) 11J,,n d .. 1111..:J th.11 h r,·1111c-.11:d thi: ( ,,:n ,r,,I \1 ,111a,:.:r tn rut hi, J1-s, ni,f.1 ctr1111 ;1h,n11 the ~pi.:ctl ic a, pi:cts ol h i, Job p,: r l,1rni;111lc' in '" i11tt[! "' I,.: c1111 lc! ht: g , i:11 the 11pport mit) 111 ~11'\\cr these llhtcad 111 li,1,·•11ng ·o t'l'fll•r:1li1 11..·~ anti , crhal .1h 11:-i1.:. In .1dJ11io11. \l r 1),1 11011· , reu,!kc lhlll o l the on co.ltn!? •n I ~ .lan u:rr). \\h rn Iii: "•" mad <: rc:r.iLJmJan1. \\il'i dil Ji.: rcn t lo th.il tl.:,a1hcJ .,t,m,: B~ aud 1.irμ,· \f r D.11! ,,n ·, e, 11kncc.: p<'ints J t,, ., , er) rnll lllc' c1i11g tlur i11 μ \\hid 1 he: \\ , I~ ,id ,·i,t:d qf h" l1:rm1 11:i1 1nn. hand.:d a dncumc111 ,..:11111 c t1u1 hi, t.:lllll lcmc111, anti b.:111,• lrl\ L:11 !111n1c ,1' ,non '" h-: u1llcctcd I " t hmg,. I k ,,. 1, pm 11,111,irl~ ·•Y!'l'i l'\c<l :,1 hi:1111• t111ahlc tP h ,1 1c 11,e 11 1'1h,.: L'11 111pam ,.:hi,k for a 11111, 111.:r It·, tcn111na11nr1. cl,1111 Ill!! lllJI 111hc r l'lllplt•,c.:, ,,h, h,1,I hc,·n , uh ,,:q11cntl ~ 1,:nn111.11.:d \\ l.'t'-' ,:-1, ..: 11 tl 11 ., h,·11di1. I tlc ,1~0, \." i, ,I \C:f~ .ibhn:, 1\th:d ,u1rn11a1: ,,t the ~ 11 hn11 ..,,1 u11, and <' \ 1d c 11 c,.: .11h ancc.l. ,011c1h .: li.:~, lh~ c1111 ri: ,.:1 icls:nr..: ,111 J ,u:>mh,11111, ha,l h.:c11 u111'1ds•rcx.l h~ 111, J?ltl h,I\C kJ me 111 r.:.t,h the ro 11d11 sr,•n thar: -- 1 of 2 -- 928 QUEE I LA 1D GOVER 1ME rr I DUSTRI AL G ZETTE / I ) th, .: , ,,kn c.: of i\11 Rad k: ~mJ Mr<. ,111ingh,un . r..:,p,·1:111 d:. i, '" t>..: prd..:m:J t" ..:r !hJI ,1r l\lr D.ilt11n 111 .m:<1• 111' inu1ri-i,t c111.: . "1th 1h, , ,-:,p110n ,,1 th..: .1,1ual r..:p.ii1 ol l~rn,lnab, Otl ~t1 1nr~my pn..; mi~i.',: tll the pm,ition ur Mt l )~1l t1111 a, l cd mic,1 1 ,\ l,ui.tgcr "•" 111a1.k r,:JunJanl ,,n ,- 1.inu.ir~ 199~ '"th th: r.·JunJ.111,~ ~"-Ill!! h.i,..: d on the opcr.it11H1.i l rcquin:,n..:111> t1I 111,· ..:111ph1: er, 1mtkn.tk111g c,t.ihlt•!uncnt nr ,cl" 1cc. l'\l \lr llJhon", rcJunJa n c). a!1~.1ll nr M r Bud1i.:c kcr and 11thi.:r :m pln:cc,. ,\a, .,u,tili,J h.i, 111~ rq;JrJ to the cmplo),'r, , ip,r, 1t imwl r·cq11 11·c mc11 t, an d. 1n particula r. t,ecauw o l" \ lr Dali.111 , 111hui1,1hil,t) ,111J ,,r •m"1lhngnc,, 10 undcn,11-.c oth <.: 1 w.,1-. ~ " hid1 llli )!ht ha, c rc·a ,1111,11>1: hc ..:11 lound lo r lum. ,ud1 J, th,,...: 1ha1 "..:r..: ,.in, ,1,-cJ 111 th.: di,,u--11111 hCl\\ ,·cn l\l r ( 1111111,,h,1111 .i ml \lr I laltnn on 'J J,11 111an . I he <Jli..:,11011 ,1n,c, tlu,u;;h. ha, Ill ;! r,T,ud lll the ,1 pc1 .1111111;1! rc,1u11cm .:11h . "hcthcr tht: di,mis< al \\ii' h:tr, h. 1111111,t or uirre.isnn.ihk \ Ith, tune ,,1 h1s tcnnin~llllll. \1, l).ilt,Hl \\,1, p.i1J lour \\e.:1.,· r..: J u11 danc: pa) and Ii, ,: \ICCb m lit:11 01' 1wl1tl'. 1hr, pa )ll h.:111 "·" rc,11111111..:mlt:J h~ \lr <. m1in~h,1111 111 111, nn:mnmnJum 10 \lr R.,Jt..~ 1111 11 J.m 11 ,tr) 11J'J~ "hcn h.: rccummcml.-J np t11>n 1hrce tahm c I. lt.me,..:r. "hen l\lr ( ,,11m;; h ,1m haJ e.trlil:r carnasscJ \lilh \11 R,1dli.:) th..: 1hree p,1,,it>k 11p1i,m, 1q:,11.l111~ thi.: k dm1c.1I ~l an.1)!cr·~ 1w"t 1o n he h.,J c ,111\ ;1,,..:d the pu ,,i hilit ) of··:a 11cg11 ti ahle p .1~ 111 c111,,r ur 111 Light "..:cl.., pa) .,, r.:Jund.inc~ ,,nkm.:nt" \\ h~ the 1i11,1I rccntn1ncnd atinn tl i lk n.: d lru 111 the 1111L ial po, i1 i1111 "" ' 111,t 111nd..: pl.nn 11 " dear lrnm the .:, 1Jenn: 1ha t \ It ll,,hun '"" ""' cm .:r..·tl h~ ,111 ,1\1,ll'll u l 1h ,, . nr . 111 ~ lllhcr. 1rihun.1I. l l.1tl he h..:cn h..: "1,ulJ h.1, c !ic..:n c nt11kJ t11 Ii,.: "cd..,· Pl nnt i,c ( ha,cd 11r1111 tu, al_!d plu, c1μh1 ,\c.:l.., r..:,hmtl,1111..~ ra: m,·nt In thc <1r.:u111,1.m..:, ,,r thh matt.:r .111J n,>\\\llli-1,111-hn:; the 111,1 t,·ria l \lh 1d1 \la, r rc,..: nl<.:d Ill c \ld i.: nn; e1>11cc1 11 111μ the lin ar , 1..1.11 fl<>•ll11111 nl the cmpli•~.:r I t,~lu.:, c 1h,1t ..n .ippr,,pri,,t,.: pa) m,111 In \1, IJ,11!1> 11 «t 1hi: t1111.: 111 h i, 1.:,lund anc: 1>11 17 t anu.ir~ I'"I' ,ll(oulJ hj,..: hc,n cig.hl \\t:d,, · rt:dll!ll.lan,~ 11,1\11\,111 i11,1.:,1tl 111 the 1t,u1 \\1,;.;b th.11 \\,t, n,11J I I.I\ 111;: r,_,1rJ to• ,11-! 1 lindini:. rhi: 1,nn,11;11,.,11 PI \11 l ).1111111 Oil [ "I .l, ll llllll ) ,-.1, 110 1 ,;did \\i thin i ht: lllt:.111111 !' 11r, ~\/If~,, ,I I \n.,,rJ111gl~ I J-:;~n11111-: th.it \ lr 1),1lt,>11 is 11' he 1-,11,I ,II' .ick l1111 , 11,tl lour ",·,.l,, of ,.1l:1n ,ll 1ht: r .11 ..: :ippli1,;: 1hk ,111 1• ,l.1m1o1n l•IIJ' and th;rt S!tdl ,1 J'••~mcnl i, ln Ix 1111J..: \\ ·hm ~ I ,l,1~• ui th, d,th: ,11 thi> Jt:1.1,11111 \ I 111 00\1111 I I> l 11·111111-..,11,n..:1 \I • H l);ilt.•11 ,:1. ·c, I on hi- 11\, 11 hi:half \ 1r R I 1, ing.,11111t: of' I "i11g.,1011c, •\u,1r.1li.1. 111, trnt:tc<l h: \lr I' <,Jll.i~I,.:• pf \l cl. 11 .. 1>1 i;h Rni,..:nwn .. n l>ch.111 ,,1 \l,1 gr.,1 l'.1uli, l't;- 1 ,J ( >p,· r .it ,, ,. lhtc \ •\ lk, 1,u,11 - \ppl•1..,1!1t•n f,,r lk ni-1.,1,11 1~ 111 12 l J ul y, 1995 21 July. 1995 1 Ql 'EE NS LA '\JO GOVERN lENT f:'1DC STRJ AL GAZETTE 929 ------ - -- 2 of 2 --