Rutledge and Comcare
[2011] AATA 865
AATA
2011-12-07
Not yet cited by other cases
Applicant: colleagues not administrative action - aggravation not contributed to by reasonable administrative action - injury - decision set aside Safety, Rehabilitation
Respondent: Compensation Act 1988 , ss 4 , 5A , 5B , 7 , 14 , 16 , 67 Asioty
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Concept tags · 5
Cases cited in this decision · 10
Cited
[1967] HCA 10
(not in corpus)
"…Nicholl & Co Counsel for the Respondent Ms S. Callan Solicitor for the Respondent Ms A. Danti, Dibbs Barker [1] T28. [2] Salisbury v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157 ; Darling Island Stevedoring &...…"
Cited
(1967) 117 CLR 19
(not in corpus)
"…unsel for the Respondent Ms S. Callan Solicitor for the Respondent Ms A. Danti, Dibbs Barker [1] T28. [2] Salisbury v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157 ; Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co...…"
Cited
[1989] HCA 40
(not in corpus)
"…he Respondent Ms A. Danti, Dibbs Barker [1] T28. [2] Salisbury v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157 ; Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Hankinson [1967] HCA 10 ; (1967) 117 CLR 19 ;...…"
Cited
(1989) 87 ALR 385
(not in corpus)
"…Ms A. Danti, Dibbs Barker [1] T28. [2] Salisbury v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157 ; Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Hankinson [1967] HCA 10 ; (1967) 117 CLR 19 ; Asioty v Canberra...…"
Cited
[1964] HCA 34
(not in corpus)
"…an Iron & Steel Ltd (1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157 ; Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Hankinson [1967] HCA 10 ; (1967) 117 CLR 19 ; Asioty v Canberra Abattoir Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 40 ; (1989) 87 ALR 385. [3]...…"
Cited
[2009] FCA 504
(not in corpus)
"…[1967] HCA 10 ; (1967) 117 CLR 19 ; Asioty v Canberra Abattoir Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 40 ; (1989) 87 ALR 385. [3] Federal Broom Co Pty Ltd v Semlitch [1964] HCA 34 ; [1964] 110 CLR 626 , per Kitto J at 634-635. [4]...…"
Cited
[2010] AATA 893
(not in corpus)
"…2006 (Cth), page v. [10] ST13 folio 194. [11] For example, ST13 folio 194 refers. [12] Exhibit A1, p2. [13] T15 folio 59. [14] ST12 folio 180. [15] T27 folio 91. [16] Exhibit A2. [17] [2010] AATA 893. [18] Re Reeve...…"
Cited
[2010] AATA 777
(not in corpus)
"…rs. [12] Exhibit A1, p2. [13] T15 folio 59. [14] ST12 folio 180. [15] T27 folio 91. [16] Exhibit A2. [17] [2010] AATA 893. [18] Re Reeve and Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2010] AATA 893 at [49] . [19] [2010] AATA...…"
Cited
[2011] AATA 210
(not in corpus)
"…o 59. [14] ST12 folio 180. [15] T27 folio 91. [16] Exhibit A2. [17] [2010] AATA 893. [18] Re Reeve and Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2010] AATA 893 at [49] . [19] [2010] AATA 777. [20] Re Radulovic and Comcare...…"
Cited
[2011] AATA 748
(not in corpus)
"…17] [2010] AATA 893. [18] Re Reeve and Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2010] AATA 893 at [49] . [19] [2010] AATA 777. [20] Re Radulovic and Comcare [2010] AATA 777 at [72] to [74]. [21] [2011] AATA 210. [22] [2011]...…"
Archived text (5047 words)
Rutledge and Comcare [2011] AATA 865 (7 December 2011)
Last Updated: 7 December 2011
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION
[2011] AATA 865
ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL
)
) 2010/4725
) 2011/1689
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
)
Re
MARY RUTLEDGE
Applicant
And
COMCARE
Respondent
DECISION
Tribunal
Mr S. Webb, Member
Date
7 December 2011
Place
Canberra
Decision
The decision under review in application
2010/4725 is affirmed. The decision under review in application 2011/1689 is set
aside and
in place thereof it is decided that Mrs Rutledge suffered an
aggravation injury in relation to which Comcare is liable to pay
compensation.
The parties have 14 days in which to file submissions in
relation to orders for costs.
....................[sgd].......................
Mr S. Webb, Member
CATCHWORDS
WORKERS COMPENSATION - compensable injury -
Chronic Adjustment Disorder - substantial recovery - continuing impairment and
restriction
in employment - susceptibility to aggravation - relapse - new injury
- medical treatment obtained in relation to new injury - decision
affirmed
WORKERS COMPENSATION - disease - susceptibility to aggravation -
conversation with supervisor - aggravation of disease - aggravation
significantly contributed to by employment - exclusionary factors –
informal conversation between colleagues not administrative
action - aggravation
not contributed to by reasonable administrative action - injury - decision set
aside
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
,
ss 4
,
5A
,
5B
,
7
,
14
,
16
,
67
Asioty v Canberra Abattoir Pty Ltd
[1989] HCA 40
;
(1989) 87 ALR 385
Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd v Hankinson
[1967] HCA 10
;
(1967)
117 CLR 19
Federal Broom Co Pty Ltd v Semlitch
[1964] HCA 34
;
[1964] 110 CLR 626
Mellor v Australian Postal Corporation
[2009] FCA 504
Re Dyer and Comcare
[2011] AATA 748
Re KRDV and National Australia Bank Limited
[2011] AATA 210
Re Radulovic and Comcare
[2010] AATA 777
Re Reeve and Commonwealth Bank of Australia
[2010] AATA 893
Salisbury v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd
(1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157
REASONS FOR DECISION
7 December 2011
Mr S. Webb, Member
Mary
Rutledge is a teacher. She was injured in her employment and suffered from a
Chronic Adjustment Disorder. She claimed and was
paid compensation. With
treatment and rehabilitation she returned to work. Later, following a
conversation with her school principal,
she became unwell and sought medical
treatment. She claimed compensation for the medical treatment, but this was
denied. She also
claimed compensation for a fresh injury, but this, too, was
denied. She applied for review of those decisions.
The
brief facts follow. Mrs Rutledge was and is employed as a Level 1 teacher at the
Torrens Primary School. She was injured in 2003
and suffered from a Chronic
Adjustment Disorder. She obtained treatment. The treatment was substantially
effective and she returned
to work in 2004. She ceased pharmacological treatment
in 2005 and consulted her treating general practitioner periodically thereafter.
She continued to experience anxiety from time to time, notably for periods in
2008 and 2009. In August 2009 Dr Sanderson, her then
treating general
practitioner, certified her fit for full duties and full hours, with 2 provisos:
Mrs Rutledge was to continue working
at the Torrens Primary School – she
was not to be transferred under the teacher mobility provisions of the
Enterprise Agreement
then in force; and her condition was to be reviewed in
March 2010.
Sue
Mueller took up duties as the Principal of the Torrens Primary School in the
second Term of 2009. Toward the end of that year,
Mrs Rutledge experienced
difficulties with her voice. These became worse during the summer break. She
returned to work on 28 January
2010, the first day of Term 1, and informed Ms
Mueller and her immediate supervisor, a Level 2 Executive Teacher, that she had
a
sore throat and was experiencing difficulties with her voice. Mrs Rutledge
sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with laryngitis.
She was certified
unfit for work until 9 April 2010 (the end of Term 1).
On
10 April 2010, during a stand-down period, Mrs Rutledge returned to work to
attend a professional learning program at the Torrens
Primary School. In the
course of that day, she had at least one conversation with Ms Mueller about
which there is some controversy
(to which I will return). Mrs Rutledge attended
work at the commencement of Term 2 on 26 April 2010 and worked to 30 April 2010.
The following day, on 1 May 2010, she consulted Dr Batchelor, her treating
general practitioner, who certified that she was not fit
for work and referred
her to Anna Crichton, a clinical psychologist, for treatment. The Doctor
reported that Mrs Rutledge was suffering
from a relapse of her previous
Disorder. This was later confirmed by Dr Sheehan, a consultant psychiatrist. She
remained unfit for
work for an extended period.
Mrs
Rutledge claimed compensation for treatment she obtained from Dr Batchelor and
Ms Crichton. Her claim was denied on the basis
that the treatment was not
treatment she obtained in relation to her 2003
injury
[1]
. This decision was affirmed
on reconsideration. And that reconsideration decision is the subject of
application 2010/4725.
Mrs
Rutledge claimed compensation in respect of a fresh injury arising from the
conversation with Ms Mueller on 10 April 2010 and
related events. At the hearing
I was informed that Comcare accepts that Mrs Rutledge’s employment and the
events on 10 April
2010 contributed to a significant degree to the relapse of
symptoms. There is no dispute that these symptoms are a ‘disease’
for the purposes of the
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
(the Act). As that conclusion is consistent with the evidence, I accept it.
Nevertheless, Mrs Rutledge’s claim was rejected
on the basis that the
claimed injury was excluded as it resulted from reasonable administrative action
taken in a reasonable manner.
This reconsideration decision is under review in
application 2011/1689.
The
issues to be decided are:
(a) was the
medical treatment Mrs Rutledge obtained, medical treatment in relation to the
2003 Chronic Adjustment Disorder injury?
(b) is the
disease Mrs Rutledge suffered following the events on 10 April 2010 excluded as
an injury?
WAS THE MEDICAL TREATMENT MRS RUTLEDGE
OBTAINED, MEDICAL TREATMENT IN RELATION TO THE 2003 CHRONIC ADJUSTMENT DISORDER
INJURY?
Mrs
Rutledge says that the effects of the Adjustment Disorder injury in 2003 had not
ceased on 10 April 2010. In her submission, if
she had not suffered from the
Disorder, the events on 10 April 2010 would not have had such an effect on her.
She relies on the evidence
of Dr Batchelor, Dr Sheehan and Ms Crichton. Mrs
Rutledge asserts that the medical treatment she obtained from Dr Batchelor and
Ms
Crichton, on referral, was, in part at least, in relation to the Disorder she
suffered when injured in 2003.
I
do not agree.
Under
section 16
of the
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
(the
Act), compensation is payable in respect of medical treatment obtained in
relation to an injury. An ‘injury’ under
the Act includes a
‘disease’, which is defined to include the aggravation of an ailment
that is significantly contributed
to by the employee’s employment. The
term ‘aggravation’ is defined to include acceleration or recurrence.
It is
synonymous with exacerbation, in the sense that an ailment is made
worse
[2]
or the experience of it is
“
increased or intensified by an increase or intensifying of
symptoms
"
[3]
–
“
Neither the absence of change in the underlying condition nor the
temporary nature of the symptoms experienced preclude the existence
of
an aggravation of an ailment for the purposes of the SRC
Act
”
[4]
.
To
my mind, on the evidence of Dr Batchelor, Ms Crichton and Dr Sheehan, it is very
clear that Mrs Rutledge’s Disorder was aggravated
following the events on
10 April 2010. It appears that Mrs Rutledge, by her own account, ruminated about
the conversation with Ms
Mueller on 10 April 2010 – she perceived that Ms
Mueller was attempting to force her into an administrative or office position,
or to transfer to another school, or to retire. She felt under-valued as a
result. She also perceived that Ms Mueller had prevented
her from attending the
school prior to the commencement of Term 2 to prepare her classroom, having been
away during Term 1. This
caused her to become stressed and anxious.
Nevertheless, she attended work on 26 April 2010 to resume her teaching duties
at the
school. She continued at work that week, but experienced increasing
symptoms. In consequence, Mrs Rutledge consulted Dr Batchelor
on Saturday 1 May
2010. The Doctor certified that she was not fit for work. Mrs Rutledge remained
unfit and did not return to work
for an extended period.
Dr
Batchelor reported that prior to these events Mrs Rutledge’s Disorder was
“
well controlled
” and “
had this incident in late
April not occurred there is no reason to believe that she would have had a
recurrence of her
symptoms
”
[5]
. I accept this
evidence and so find.
It
can be accepted that the 2003 injury rendered Mrs Rutledge susceptible to a
recurrence of symptoms or relapse – on the evidence
of Dr Batchelor, Mrs
Rutledge experienced increased symptoms when she was faced with the annual
prospect of her transfer to another
school
[6]
. Dr Batchelor also reported
that the events of 10 April 2010 “
would not have resulted in such a
severe reaction but in the context of all her previous issues with Comcare and
her adjustment disorder
this incident caused a severe
reaction/recurrence
”
[7]
.
Considering
this evidence, it appears that the treatment Mrs Rutledge obtained on 1 May 2010
from Dr Batchelor was treatment for the
recurrence of symptoms of anxiety and
depression that followed her conversation with Ms Mueller on 10 April 2010. Even
though the
previous Disorder from 2003 provided a context and to some extent
influenced the intensity of Mrs Rutledge’s response, weighing
the present
evidence, it cannot fairly be said that the treatment under claim that she
obtained on and after 1 May 2010 from Dr Batchelor
and Ms Crichton was in
relation to the 2003 injury. I am reasonably satisfied that it was not. Rather,
it is probable that the treatment
was obtained in relation to the increased
symptoms Mrs Rutledge experienced following the events on 10 April 2010. And
those increased
symptoms are consistent with an aggravation of her previous
Disorder, being a new ‘disease’ for the purposes of the Act.
It
follows that the decision under review in application 2010/4725 must be
affirmed.
IS THE DISEASE MRS RUTLEDGE SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THE
EVENTS ON 10 APRIL 2010 EXCLUDED AS AN INJURY?
Comcare
says that the aggravation of Mrs Rutledge’s Disorder is excluded because
it resulted from reasonable administrative
action taken in a reasonable manner.
In Comcare’s submission the reasonable administrative action was the
conversation Mrs
Rutledge had with Ms Mueller on 10 April 2010.
Comcare’s
submission rises on two legs. Firstly, Comcare says that during the conversation
Mrs Rutledge raised the option of
a transfer into a Learning Assistant or an
English as a Second Language position, but Ms Mueller informed her that no such
transfer
was possible in the Torrens Primary School. This, Comcare says, is
‘reasonable administrative action’ within the terms
of section
5A(2)(f) of the Act – ‘anything reasonable done in connection with
the employee’s failure to obtain
a ... transfer or benefit ... in
connection with his or her employment’.
Secondly,
Comcare asserts that the conversation is properly characterised as a legitimate
human resource management action taken by
Ms Mueller, the school Principal, in
respect of Mrs Rutledge, a Level 1 teacher in the school, to address issues
relating to her
employment. In Comcare’s submission, having regard to the
Explanatory Memorandum concerning the amendments whereby the reasonable
administrative action exclusions were introduced in April 2007, the conversation
can clearly be seen to be within the meaning of
‘reasonable administrative
action’ that was intended by the Parliament. This, in Comcare’s
submission, squarely
places the conversation within the ‘reasonable
administrative action taken in a reasonable manner’ exclusion under
section
5A(1) of the Act.
I
do not agree.
With
regard to the terms and purposes of the legislation, the first question to
answer is whether this conversation is an ‘administrative
action’ in
connection with Mrs Rutledge’s employment. The term ‘administrative
action’ is not given any special
meaning under the Act, whereas the term
‘reasonable administrative action’ is explicated in section 5A(2).
It is through
this frame, having regard to the purposes of the exclusionary
aspects of section 5A(1) and the purposes of the Act more generally,
that
‘administrative action’ must be considered.
In
common usage the words ‘administrative action’ have the following
meaning: ‘administrative’ means ‘Pertaining
to, or dealing
with, the conduct or management of affairs; executive’, and
‘executive’ means ‘Pertaining
to execution; having the
function of executing or carrying into practical effect’;
‘action’ means ‘Something
done or performed, a deed, an
act’
[8]
. Thus, applying the
common meaning of these words in the context of an employee’s employment,
it can be seen that an ‘administrative
action’ involves something
that is done to effect the conduct or management of the employee’s
employment.
When
viewed through the frame of the legislation, however, it does not follow that
any interaction between a supervisor or manager
and a subordinate employee that
occurs in the context of employment will meet this test to the extent that it
may be considered to
be an ‘administrative action’. This is such a
case.
Section
5A(2) offers guidance as to the kinds of administrative actions that are to be
considered as ‘reasonable administrative
actions’ for the purposes
of the Act. That section is inclusive in terms and not exhaustive. Even though
not expressly included,
it may be accepted that ‘legitimate human resource
management actions’
[9]
are
within the terms of the section insofar as those actions are ‘in
connection with’ the actions set out in section
5A(2) concerning
performance appraisal, formal and informal counselling, formal or informal
disciplinary action, failure to obtain
a promotion, reclassification, transfer
or benefit, or the retention of a benefit, in connection with the particular
employment.
It is conceivable that administrative actions other than those that
are expressly set out in section 5A(2) may be within the meaning
of
‘reasonable administrative action’ for the purposes of section
5A(1), as Comcare contends. But as I have said, the
common meaning of the words
must be applied.
Thus,
in order to determine whether the conversation between Mrs Rutledge and Ms
Mueller on 10 April 2010 is within the meaning of
‘reasonable
administrative action’ it is necessary to consider whether the
conversation, in whole or in part, was engaged
in to effect the conduct or
management of Mrs Rutledge’s employment. For that purpose, it is necessary
to consider the context
in which the conversation occurred, the particular
circumstances of the conversation, as well as its content and purpose.
Mrs
Rutledge and Ms Mueller agree that the conversation was brief and it was
conducted in the presence of other participants in the
professional learning
program. There are areas of disagreement, however, about certain aspects of the
content of the conversation
and about whether the conversation was foreshadowed
by Ms Mueller earlier that day – Mrs Rutledge says that it was; Ms Mueller
says that it was not.
Ms
Mueller says that
“I had asked after the welfare of Ms Rutledge. She had informed me that
she was thinking of other options rather than teaching
a class eg the LA
[Learning Assistant] position. I informed her that as she is aware from
discussions held with staff in 2009 and
at the start of 2010 the LA positions in
all schools was no longer an option as they had developed into Literacy and
Numeracy teams.
She then suggested maybe the ESL [English as a Second Language]
position. I also stated that this was not an option at Torrens as
we already had
a teacher in the position. I offered further suggestions for consideration of
office positions as they were advertised,
transfer to another school if she
wished to pursue ESL positions, small group work or part time work (as we had no
positions available
at Torrens) or possibly retirement. This conversation was
not singling Ms Rutledge out nor suggesting one course of action over any
others. I have these conversations with various staff from time to time as they
grapple with career planning, change of careers and
work/life balance
issues.”
[10]
Ms Mueller confirmed, orally, that Mrs Rutledge
asked about the possibility of her attending the school during the holiday
stand-down
period - Ms Mueller says that she informed Mrs Rutledge that she
would need to make an arrangement for that to occur in the usual
way
[11]
.
Mrs
Rutledge says that
‘Ms Mueller said to me words to the effect, “Mary, with your
voice problems you need to apply for an office job in the
transfer
round.”
I replied, “My doctor says that my voice will get better and I want to
teach. If I was to move from classroom teaching I thought
an LA (Learning
Assistance) or an ESL (English as a second language) position would be more
appropriate than an office job.”.
Ms Mueller said to me words to the effect, “Those positions would be no
good for you as you would still need to use your voice.”.
I then asked Ms Mueller, “Could I come to the school during the
holidays to help prepare and get organised for next term.”.
Ms Mueller advised that this was not
possible.’
[12]
As
can be seen, these varying accounts serve to confirm the essential contents and
nature of the conversation. Clearly enough, it
traversed issues concerning Mrs
Rutledge’s vocal difficulties, her return to work in Term 2 and options
that may be open to
her in her employment, and the possibility of Mrs Rutledge
attending the school during the stand-down period.
On
the evidence of Ms Mueller, the conversation was an informal interaction between
colleagues - the conversation was not one that
was planned or premeditated on
her part; it was, in effect, spontaneous and very brief, lasting only a few
minutes. It did not result
in any action being taken. The context of the
conversation included the fact that Mrs Rutledge had been unfit for work and
experienced
difficulties with her voice during Term 1 of 2010. It occurred on
the first day of her return to work after that absence, in the
school library,
during a break in the professional learning program in which Mrs Rutledge and Ms
Mueller were participating, while
other participants in that program were
present. I accept this evidence. On Dr Batchelor’s evidence, the
precipitant of Mrs
Rutledge’s relapse was a suggestion by Ms Mueller
“
that Mary move into an administrative
job
”
[13]
–
“
she should think about transferring to an office job rather than
returning to her teaching
position
”
[14]
. Dr
Batchelor was not called to give evidence. Dr Sheehan reported that
“
Mrs Rutledge has suffered a relapse of her chronic adjustment disorder
subsequent to meeting with her school principal, where it is
alleged that the
principal suggested that she undertake office work and alleged other comments
that Mrs Rutledge should consider
retirement
”
[15]
. Dr
Sheehan was not called to give evidence. It can be accepted, nevertheless, that
these reports are based on information provided
by Mrs Rutledge, and they
reflect Mrs Rutledge’s perception of events.
It
appears that Mrs Rutledge perceived the content of the conversation and its
purpose differently than Ms Mueller. In Mrs Rutledge’s
perception the
conversation was not supportive and was intended to pressure her to work in an
office, or to transfer to another school,
or to retire. By Ms Mueller’s
account, for her, the purpose of the conversation was simply to say hello to Mrs
Rutledge and
to see how she was. By her account she commonly engaged in
conversations of this kind with staff. Ms Mueller informed me that the
conversation traversed options raised by Mrs Rutledge or that may be open to her
in the event that she experienced further difficulties
with her voice, and it
was not as Mrs Rutledge perceived.
I
found Mrs Rutledge and Ms Mueller to be straightforward witnesses, who gave
their evidence frankly. But both cannot be correct.
I am reasonably satisfied
that Mrs Rutledge construed Ms Mueller’s words as more directive and with
greater significance, with
a different meaning or purpose, than was intended. I
accept Dr Batchelor’s evidence that the severity of Mrs Rutledge’s
reaction to the conversation derived, in part at least, from her previous injury
in 2003. This injury left Mrs Rutledge susceptible
to relapse and it is possible
that this affected her perceptions concerning the content of the conversation
with Ms Mueller.
Even
though Ms Mueller was the School Principal, with over-arching responsibilities,
she was not Mrs Rutledge’s direct supervisor;
that role was the
responsibility of a Level 2 teacher. It is not established that the conversation
between Ms Mueller and Mrs Rutledge
occurred in the context of any express or
ongoing management or administrative actions relating to Mrs Rutledge’s
employment.
It is established that Ms Mueller confirmed Mrs Rutledge’s
attendance at the professional learning exercise a number of days
earlier and
she had a conversation with Mr Rutledge in March
2010
[16]
. But these actions do not
alter the essential nature of the conversation she had with Mrs Rutledge during
the professional learning
program.
I
am reasonably satisfied that the conversation between Mrs Rutledge and Ms
Mueller on 10 April 2010 was of a collegiate, spontaneous
kind, in passing. It
was not planned and no notice was given – Mrs Rutledge’s assertion
that Ms Mueller put her on notice
prior to commencement of the professional
learning program is a possibility, but this is not established as a fact. I
accept Ms Mueller’s
evidence that it was not a conversation for an
administrative purpose or that occurred in an administrative context. Even
though
the content of the conversation traversed options relating to Mrs
Rutledge’s employment, the conversation was not something
done to effect
the conduct or management of her employment.
To
my mind, a conversation of this kind, in which a supervisor or manager interacts
with an employee in an informal collegiate manner,
without planning, notice, or
an administrative context or purpose, is not an ‘administrative
action’ for the purposes
of section 5A(1) of the Act.
Even
if I am wrong on that point, I do not accept Comcare’s submission that the
conversation was in connection with Mrs Rutledge’s
failure to obtain a
transfer or a benefit, or to retain a benefit. Ms Mueller’s contribution
to the conversation in respect
of possibilities concerning transfer to Learning
Assistant or English as a Second Language positions is no more than that. This
is
not properly or fairly construed as something reasonable done in connection
with Mrs Rutledge’s failure to obtain anything
in connection with her
employment – more is required. It is not established that Mrs Rutledge was
actively seeking transfer
to either of these positions. Moreover, there is no
evidence that this aspect of the conversation, however construed, significantly
contributed to cause the disease under claim. The factor in the conversation
that appears to have contributed to cause the recurrence
of symptoms is reported
by Dr Batchelor to be Mrs Rutledge’s perception that she may be
transferred into an office job or to
another school. Clearly Mrs Rutledge did
not want or seek to obtain any such transfer. On Ms Mueller’s evidence she
did not
intend to take any administrative action to transfer Ms Rutledge into an
office job (and no such action was taken), it was simply
a possible option that
may be considered in the event that Mrs Rutledge experienced further
difficulties with her voice. I prefer
the evidence of Ms Mueller on this
point.
That
being so, the conversation is not an administrative action for the purposes of
section 5A(2)(f) of the Act.
I
do not accept Comcare’s submission that the conversation between Mrs
Rutledge and Ms Mueller is properly characterised as
legitimate human resource
management action for the purposes of the exclusionary aspect of section 5A(1)
of the Act. Simply put,
a spontaneous informal conversation between a school
principal and a member of her teaching staff, in which possible options to meet
hypothetical scenarios in the context of employment briefly arise, to my mind
does not constitute a legitimate human resource management
action (or any form
of administrative or management action) for the purposes of the Act. That is
especially so if, as here, the conversation
was conducted without planning,
notice, or documentation, in public and in passing, without any clear
administrative context, purpose,
effect or result.
If
a conversation of that kind is taken to be within the meaning of administrative
action for the purposes of section 5A(1) or (2)
of the Act, then almost any
conversation between an employee and a supervisor or manager in the context of
employment may be encompassed
in the exclusionary provision. To my mind, this
was not what the Parliament intended. Having regard to the purposes of the
exclusionary
provision in section 5A(1) and the Act as a whole, and applying the
ordinary meaning of ‘reasonable administrative action’,
collegiate
conversations of this kind are not administrative actions that may exclude an
injured employee from obtaining compensation
for an employment-related injury
that, otherwise, would be compensable.
The
facts of this case differ from those in the case of
Re Reeve and Commonwealth
Bank of Australia
[17]
. That case
is on appeal in the Federal Court of Australia. Both parties submitted that it
is not necessary to await the Full Court
judgement in
Reeve
before
deciding this case. It is noteworthy that, in
Reeve
’s case, the
Tribunal construed the exclusionary terms of section 5A(1) in a manner that does
not include “
matters of general administration, management and the
implementation of policy, even if such action indirectly or incidentally affects
the employment of
employees
”
[18]
. In this
case, the exclusionary factor does not concern general administration or the
implementation of policy, but rather concerns
a particular interaction between a
manager and an employee, in the form of an informal conversation.
I
also note the case of
Re Radulovic and
Comcare
[19]
, in which the
Tribunal considered the scope of the exclusionary provisions in section
5A(1)
[20]
, again on different facts,
and concluded that “
the exclusionary provisions are not intended to be
at large
”. This approach was followed in
Re KRDV and National
Australia Bank Limited
[21]
,
which is on appeal in the Federal Court. Neither party suggested that this case
should be delayed pending judgement in
KRDV
. It is also appropriate to
mention
Re Dyer and
Comcare
[22]
in which the
Tribunal said “
it is fair to say that any action undertaken by those in
management roles in the course of managing the workplace in which the employee
is engaged would fall within the expression
administrative
action”
[23]
. These cases are
distinguished from Mrs Rutledge’s case simply because the controversial
conversation in her case, to my mind,
is not a management action – it was
not an action undertaken in managing her employment. To my mind, management
action is not
properly understood to include an informal collegiate conversation
between a manager and an employee. The concept of management action
in the
context of an employee’s employment, and for the purposes of the Act, is
not so broad that it encompasses anything and
everything that a manager does or
says in the particular workplace, rather it relates to actions undertaken when
managing the employee’s
employment.
In
conclusion, I am reasonably satisfied that the conversation between Ms Mueller
and Mrs Rutledge on 10 April 2010 was not administrative
action for the purposes
of section 5A of the Act. It follows that the disease in respect of which Mrs
Rutledge claimed compensation
is not excluded as an injury under section 5A(1)
of the Act. It is an injury for which Comcare is liable under section 14 of the
Act. For this reason the reviewable decision in application 2011/1689 must be
set aside.
The
parties have not been heard as to orders for costs under section 67 of the Act.
Written submissions on this subject, if any, are
to be filed within 14 days. If
no submissions are filed, I will then order Comcare to pay Mrs Rutledge’s
reasonable costs in
application 2011/1689, as agreed or taxed.
I certify that the 42 preceding paragraphs are a true copy of the reasons for
the decision herein of Mr S. Webb, Member.
Signed:
.....................[sgd]..........................................................
H.Choi, Associate
Date of Hearing 23 November 2011
Date of Decision 7 December 2011
Counsel for the Applicant Mr D. Richards
Solicitor for the Applicant Mr B.
Redpath, Nicholl & Co
Counsel for the Respondent Ms S.
Callan
Solicitor for the Respondent Ms A.
Danti, Dibbs Barker
[1]
T28.
[2]
Salisbury v Australian
Iron & Steel Ltd
(1943) 44 SR (NSW) 157
;
Darling Island Stevedoring
& Lighterage Co Ltd v Hankinson
[1967] HCA 10
;
(1967) 117 CLR 19
;
Asioty v Canberra
Abattoir Pty Ltd
[1989] HCA 40
;
(1989) 87 ALR
385.
[3]
Federal Broom Co Pty
Ltd v Semlitch
[1964] HCA 34
;
[1964] 110 CLR 626
, per Kitto J at 634-635.
[4]
Mellor v Australian Postal
Corporation
[2009] FCA 504
at
[26]
.
[5]
T15 folio
59.
[6]
T15 folio
59.
[7]
ST12 folio
180.
[8]
Oxford English Dictionary,
Online Edition 2011.
[9]
Explanatory Memorandum,
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other
Legislation Amendment Bill 2006
(Cth), page
v.
[10]
ST13 folio
194.
[11]
For example, ST13 folio
194 refers.
[12]
Exhibit A1,
p2.
[13]
T15 folio
59.
[14]
ST12 folio
180.
[15]
T27 folio
91.
[16]
Exhibit
A2.
[17]
[2010] AATA
893.
[18]
Re Reeve and
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
[2010] AATA 893
at
[49]
.
[19]
[2010] AATA
777.
[20]
Re Radulovic and
Comcare
[2010] AATA 777
at
[72]
to
[74].
[21]
[2011] AATA
210.
[22]
[2011] AATA
748.
[23]
Re Dyer and
Comcare
[2011] AATA 748
at
[58]
.