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ARTICLE · 25 MAY 2021

Dishonest General Manager was not wrongfully dismissed

Bartier Perry Solicitors
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Lessons from recent case where the general manager was lawfully terminated for dishonest behaviour.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
James Mattson
James Mattson
Hannah Dawson (Formerly With Bartier Perry)
Hannah Dawson (Formerly With Bartier Perry)
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It is well known in employment, especially in senior roles, that honesty is an important quality. This is especially so in public sector employment.

This principle was recently made abundantly clear by President Bell of the NSW Supreme Court in Eldridge v Wagga Wagga City Council [2021] NSWSC 312 (31 March 2021).

In this case, President Bell formed the view that the General Manager of Wagga Wagga City Council was lawfully terminated for, amongst other reasons, his failure to disclose pecuniary interests as well as conflicts of interest, constituting serious and persistent breaches of his employment contract. In this article, we examine the lessons from this case.

A local businessman becomes General Manager

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