Griffin v Qantas Airways Ltd

Griffin, the applicant, sought compensation from Qantas Airways Ltd, the respondent, due to psychological injury sustained during his employment. The matter was heard in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. The central legal issues revolved around whether the psychological injury was caused by the employment, whether the injury was aggravated, accelerated, or exacerbated by the employment, the delay in notifying the employer of the claim, the applicant's ignorance of the causal link between his employment and the injury, the extent of the applicant's disablement, and the applicability of section 261 of the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.

The court determined that the psychological injury was caused by the employment, despite the delay in notifying the employer. It found that the applicant's ignorance of the causal link did not preclude a finding of causation. The court also ruled that the injury was not merely aggravated but rather accelerated and exacerbated by the employment. The extent of the applicant's disablement was found to be serious and permanent, entitling him to total incapacity payments for certain periods and partial incapacity payments for others, as specified in the orders. The court further held that section 261 of the 1998 Act did not apply, and therefore, the respondent was liable for hospital and medical expenses and disbursements.

The court revoked the previous decision and made several orders in favour of the applicant. The respondent was directed to pay weekly compensation for total incapacity from 10 September 1979 to 6 November 1979 and for partial incapacity for the periods specified in the orders. The respondent was also ordered to pay the applicant's hospital and medical expenses and disbursements.