Recent Cases

Kirby v Health Care Complaints Commission [2021] NSWCA 139 (09 July 2021) (Gleeson JA at [1], White JA at [94], Emmett AJA at [95])


Catchwords:


STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – interpretation – Health Care Complaints Act 1993 (NSW) (HCC Act), s 4 – definition of “disciplinary body” – whether disciplinary body “established under” the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (NSW) (National Law) – definition required to be read into HCC Act, s 90B – where Commission referred complaint to the Tribunal (NCAT) under the National Law, s 145C – where NCAT “established under” the National Law – whether NCAT authorised by the National Law to exercise the specified power of a disciplinary body in relation to a registered health practitioner

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – interpretation – HCC Act, s 90B – National Law, s 145C – interaction between HCC Act and National Law – where Director of Proceedings determined that the Commission should prosecute complaint before the Tribunal – whether Director of Proceedings acting ultra vires – whether distinction between Commission “prosecuting” the complaint before a disciplinary body and referring the complaint to the Tribunal

PROFESSIONS AND TRADES – health practitioners – dental practitioners – whether Commission referred a complaint against registered dentist to the Tribunal pursuant to s 145C of the National Law