Emma Williams v Health Services Union NSW ABN 85037751682 and Anor (No. 2) [2019] NSWIRComm 1044

Emma Williams v Health Services Union NSW ABN 85037751682 and Anor (No. 2) [2019] NSWIRComm 1044

While the applicant was unsuccessful and failed to meet the evidentiary burden, the proceedings were not brought without reasonable cause due to the legal complexity and arguable points of law; therefore, the application for costs must be dismissed both because the 'without reasonable cause' threshold was not met and in any event, discretion would not be exercised to award costs.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
09 July 2019
Procedural Posture
Application for Costs / Decision on Costs After Dismissal of Substantive Application
Outcome
Application for costs dismissed
Legal Topics
['costs' 'work Health and Safety' 'external Review' 'standing (eligibility)']

Case Brief

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Procedural Posture

Application for Costs / Decision on Costs After Dismissal of Substantive Application

  1. 1 ['Whether the applicant instituted proceedings without reasonable cause under s 181(2)(b) of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW)' 'Whether the Commission should exercise its discretion to award costs in the circumstances']

Ratio Decidendi

While the applicant was unsuccessful and failed to meet the evidentiary burden, the proceedings were not brought without reasonable cause due to the legal complexity and arguable points of law; therefore, the application for costs must be dismissed both because the 'without reasonable cause' threshold was not met and in any event, discretion would not be exercised to award costs.

Court Disposition

Application for costs dismissed

Orders

  • ['The application for costs is dismissed.']