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[2005] NSWIRComm 32
Industrial Relations Commission (NSW)
2005-08-04
Marks J
Original judgment source is linked above.
Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session
CITATION: Simmons v South Western Sydney Area Health Service and ors [2005] NSWIRComm 32
APPLICANT Giselle Simmons
FIRST RESPONDENT South Western Sydney Area Health Service PARTIES: SECOND RESPONDENT Health Adminstration Corporation
THIRD RESPONDENT New South Wales Health Department
CATCHWORDS: Unfair contract - interlocutory proceedings - application to amend summons - requirement by rule 18A for summons to specify matters of fact and law - proposed amended summons referred to arrangement but failed to specify in summary the matters of fact which formed the basis of the application - held rule 18A not complied with - motion to amend dismissed - proceedings adjourned to allow applicant limited time in which to file application to further amend the summons.
Health Administration Act 1992 s 115 Health Services Act 1997 s 7 10 16 17 22 33 LEGISLATION CITED: Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 105 106 108B Industrial Relations Commission Rules 18A
Baffis v Macquarie Health Service [1999] NSWCA 274 Baldestowe v Brown (1990) 19 NSWLR 459 Fish & Anor v Solution 6 Holdings Limited & Ors [2002] NSWIRComm 93 Fish v Solution 6 Holdings Pty Ltd (2002) NSWIRComm 93 CASES CITED: Majik Markets Pty Ltd v Brake and Service Centre Drummoyne Pty Ltd (1992) 28 NSWLR 443 Mitchforce Pty Ltd v Starkey (No 2) (2003) 130 IR 378 Mounsey v Findlay (1993) 32 NSWLR 1 Production Spray Painting & Panel Beating Pty Ltd v Newnham (1991) 27 NSWLR 644 Solution 6 Holdings Limited & Ors v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW & Ors [2004] NSWCA 200
APPLICANT ON MOTION Mr G Hatcher SC with Mr S Coleman of counsel Solicitor: S Shearman Charleton Shearman Read Lawyers LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES:
RESPONDENTS ON MOTION Mr M Kimber SC Solicitor: Judith Healy Phillips Fox
24 In order to consider this submission it is necessary to have regard to the provisions of Rule 18A(1) which are as follows: r18A New procedure under section 106 (Unfair contracts) (1) An application to the Commission to exercise the powers conferred on it by section 106 must be in Form 12A and must: (a) specify in summary the matters of fact and law which form the basis of the application, but not the evidence by which those facts are to be proved, and (b) contain sufficient information to allow the Commission to carry out its duty to conciliate under section 109 by a succinct summary. 25 The history of the introduction of Rule 18A and its purpose have been discussed by Schmidt J in this Court in Fish & Anor v Solution 6 Holdings Limited & Ors (2002) NSWIRComm 93. Her Honour noted that the purpose was to reduce costs, particularly in anticipation of the mandatory conciliation process required by s 109 of the Act. 26 The provisions of Rule 18A(1) are expressed in a mandatory form. There is a compulsion to utilise Form 12A and to specify in a summary manner "the matters of fact and law which form the basis of the application…". The evidence by which those facts are to be proved is not to be contained within the summons. 27 Form 12A requires that the applicant specify firstly the nature of the claim and secondly the contract or arrangement in respect of which the application is made. I apprehend that "specify" is used in accordance with its ordinary English usage meaning. This requires that there be a reference to the particular subject matter in a definite or explicit manner, and a description of it in some detail. 28 The attack made by the respondents on the form of the proposed amended summons is by reference to the description contained within the summary of matters of fact and law which I have previously set out verbatim. There is an assertion of an arrangement existing between the applicant and the second and third respondents whereby she performed work within the third respondent's industry, employed inter alia by the first respondent, and that that arrangement persists to the present time. 29 Whilst the arrangement as described makes reference to the parties, there is no attempt to describe the arrangement in any detail. Nor does the narrative which follows touch in any way on any understanding reached between the applicant, the Health Administration Corporation and the New South Wales Health Department pursuant to which the applicant would perform work for the first respondent. 30 That which constitutes an arrangement was discussed by Wright J, President and Walton J, Vice-President, in some detail in Mitchforce Pty Ltd v Starkey (No 2) (2003) 130 IR 378 at paragraph [132] their Honours said:
"[132] What may constitute an "arrangement" insofar as the section is concerned was discussed by the Full Bench in Legal & General Assurance Society Limited v Stock (1993) 49 IR 464 (at 480 - 481): "The authorities make clear that the term "arrangement" where used in the section is a wide one and encompasses transactions or plans which are not legally enforceable agreements. The following principles may be drawn from decided cases in the matter in relation to the ambit and reach of the term "arrangement" where used in the section ( Unconscionable Contracts and Economic Duress - Peter M Hall, at 55-56): "(1) The word 'arrangement' in its ordinary meaning and particular statutory context is a word of much wider import than the word 'contract'. (2) An 'arrangement' will be found to exist where there is a bilateral or multilateral plan or concerted action to bring about a particular result. (3) An 'arrangement' may envisage a transaction in the nature of a bargain which may not be legally binding or enforceable, something in the nature of an understanding between two or more persons. (4) The section speaks of an arrangement of a particular kind, namely, an arrangement whereby a person performs work in an industry, that is, a transaction which directly leads to the performance of work in an industry. (5) The term 'arrangement' possessing a broad and extensive meaning may be found disclosed in a document comprising or specifying its terms, or there may be no document specifying the arrangement in which event resort will be had to oral evidence of discussions whilst in other cases an arrangement may be implied or inferred from the circumstances or the conduct of the parties. An arrangement may be discovered in a combination of documentary or verbal communications and the conduct of the parties. The relationship between the parties may itself manifest an arrangement. (6) There may exist two separate contracts each forming part of a specific arrangement and together constituting the means by which it is effectuated so as to produce particular results and whereby a person performs work in an industry. (7) The section accordingly comprehends not only the initial plans but all transactions by which the arrangement is carried into effect. It applies to any dealing the purpose or the effect of which is to achieve a situation as a consequence of which or wholly or partly in fulfilment of which a person performs work in an industry. (8) The term 'arrangement' embraces a situation where there exists two or more separate contracts which, notwithstanding their separateness, are, in a particular factual context, so sufficiently associated with each other in a practical sense as together to constitute an arrangement of which each contract is a constituent part. (9) The arrangement, including the relationship leading to the performance of work and another contract, need not necessarily have sprung into existence at the same time." 31 Later, their Honours said: "[135] For an "arrangement" to be one whereby work is performed in an industry, there need merely be "a plan or concerted action by a number of persons to bring about [that] particular result": see Hall v Alison Clint Floral Delivery Pty Ltd at 64; and also Custom Credit Corporation Ltd v Goldsmith at 131, where the Full Bench held: "But it must be true to say, we think, that it is significant that Parliament did not see fit to include in the Act any definition of "arrangement", which is not a term of art and is not a word which has a very precise meaning. Looking at the setting in which it is used in s 88F, we are of the opinion that in one of its meanings "arrangement" embraces transactions which do not give rise to contracts or obligations, that is to say, obligations enforceable at law; but we are also of the opinion that in another meaning it embraces a situation where there exist two or more separate contacts which, notwithstanding their separateness, are, given the facts, so sufficiently associated with each other in a practical sense as together to constitute an arrangement of which each contract is a part". [136] It is difficult to speak of an element of a "plan or concerted action by a number of persons" as being a "term" of such an arrangement in the manner with which that word was used by the majority in Production Spray Painting. Whilst such language was clearly appropriate in the circumstances of that matter, in the context of an arrangement, as we have described it, such a word is somewhat misplaced. We agree with the respondent that in such circumstances, a reference to "purpose" will clearly be of greater utility and directs attention to the substance of the transaction between the parties. [137] What may constitute an arrangement against which the jurisdictional test (as earlier identified by us) is to be measured is clearly a matter of fact to be determined in all the circumstances. [138] One thing, however, is certain and was emphasised by Mahoney JA in Majik Markets (at 455) "it is in principle necessary [to] know what the arrangement in question is so that [the Court] can determine whether the arrangement is one which falls within s 88F" (our emphasis). This is consistent with observations within the first Full Bench consideration of the section in In Re Becker & Harry M Miller Attractions Pty Limited (No.2) [1972] AR (NSW) 298, where it was stated at 304: "Merely reading the contract in vacuo supplies no answer on the issues both jurisdictional and discretionary which will face the single judge"." 32 Production Spray Painting is a reference to Production Spray Painting & Panel Beating Pty Ltd v Newnham (1991) 37 IR 46 and Majik Markets is a reference to Majik Markets Pty Ltd v Brake and Service Centre Drummoyne Pty Ltd (1992) 28 NSWLR 443 at 446. 33 For completeness I refer also to the judgment of Spigelman CJ in Solution 6 Holdings Limited & Ors v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW & Ors [2004] NSWCA 200 in which his Honour concludes that a 'contract' is not an 'arrangement' and, for the purposes of those proceedings, an enforceable contract could not be a 'collateral arrangement' (at paragraph [66])". ] 34 For present purposes it is necessary to focus on the essential indicia which must be present before an arrangement may be found to exist. There needs to be a plan or concerted action to bring about a particular result. That is, there must be some mutuality of understanding, or at least some thought process on the part of each of the persons or entities participating in the arrangment which creates some degree of understanding or agreement about something. 35 By s 108 it is necessary that the applicant be a party to the arrangement, otherwise the proceedings are incompetent. 36 A finding that an arrangement exists is a conclusion of law. The determination of whether an arrangement exists involves mixed matters of fact and law. The necessary conclusion of law can only operate upon the factual matrix which establishes the essential indicia of an arrangement. These include, as I have said, some degree of understanding or mutuality of purpose. This must be shared by and with the applicant, either overtly or impliedly before it can be said that she was a party to the arrangement. These factual indicia must be described in the summons for it to comply with rule 18A. Of course, the arrangement must also be one "whereby a person performs work in an industry". 37 As I have previously indicated, the summons in the narration of facts and law is confined to allegations which deal with communications between the applicant and persons within the South Western Sydney Area Health Service. There is no assertion that there was any discussion, negotiation, contact or understanding with any person involving or representing the second respondent, the Health Administration Corporation. The third respondent, as I have said, is constituted by all of the employees in the New South Wales Health Service and would not be an appropriate body, organisation or entity with which to have the necessary understanding or agreement so as to create an arrangement. Accordingly, on this basis, the only assertions contained within the summons relate to dealings between the applicant and the first respondent. There is no assertion which would touch upon any entitlement reposing in the applicant for transfer from one Area Health Service to another. 38 Accordingly, whilst there is an assertion as a matter of law that such an arrangement exists, there is no mention of any matter of fact which touches upon the existence of the arrangement and its subject matter. 39 For these reasons I am of the opinion that the proposed amended summons does not comply with Rule 18A of the Rules and is not one which is framed in a manner which would allow the Commission to carry out its duty to conciliate as mandated by s 109 of the Act. As is made plain by Rule 18A(1)(b), the summons must contain sufficient information to allow the conciliation to occur. In circumstances where the respondents have made it very clear to date that they believe that no such arrangement exists and that the only relationship is between the applicant and the first respondent, the concilation process would be frustrated by the failure of the proposed amended summons to comply with Rule 18A(1)(a). This is particularly so because of the potential application of s 108B to the proceedings as currently constituted. 40 For these reasons, the notice of motion filed by the applicant seeking to amend the summons in the form of the proposed amended summons should be dismissed. This leaves for consideration the respondents' application to dismiss the summons as currently constituted because of the application of s 108B of the Act. That is a matter which has been fully argued before me. However, I propose to give the applicant one further opportunity of seeking to amend the existing summons having regard to the matters to which I have referred in this interlocutory judgment. In view of the delay which has been occasioned to date, and the fact that the applicant has already been granted one opportunity to amend the summons, any such application by way of motion should be filed within 21 days. In the absence of any such application I would propose to deliver judgment with respect to the strike-out motion brought by the respondents directed to the summons in its current form. 41 The question of costs has not been argued before me and I shall reserve costs. 42 ORDERS: 1. The applicant's notice of motion to amend the summons is dismissed. 2. Costs are reserved. 3. The applicant is directed to file any further motion seeking to amend the summons for relief within 21 days of this date.
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Simmons
South Western Sydney Area Health Service and ors
(1990) 19 NSWLR 459
(1992) 28 NSWLR 443
(2003) 130 IR 378
(1993) 32 NSWLR 1
(1991) 27 NSWLR 644
(1993) 49 IR 464
(1991) 37 IR 46