Plummer and National Australia Bank Limited (Compensation)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered a claim for compensation by an applicant against National Australia Bank Limited. The applicant sought compensation for a psychological injury, specifically an anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and agoraphobia, which he alleged were significantly contributed to by his employment. The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant suffered an ailment or an aggravation of an ailment, and if so, whether his employment with the respondent contributed to that ailment or aggravation to a significant degree.

The Tribunal's reasoning focused on establishing the nature of the applicant's condition and the date it was sustained, as well as the causal link between his employment and the condition. While the applicant asserted his employment was the major contributor to his mental health issues, the Tribunal noted evidence of significant non-work related stressors, including a breakdown of his relationship and marijuana dependency, which were identified as perpetuating his condition. Furthermore, the Tribunal considered the applicant's pre-existing back pain, which had a history dating back to his teenage years and was exacerbated by his sedentary role at NAB, and the fact that his mental health issues were first diagnosed in the context of this back pain.

The Tribunal found that while the applicant's employment involved dealing with aggressive customer calls and technical issues, contributing to him feeling like a "punching bag," these factors were not the sole or significant cause of his psychological condition. The Tribunal acknowledged the applicant's pre-existing predisposition to psychological issues and the substantial impact of non-work related stressors. Ultimately, the Tribunal affirmed a previous decision, indicating that the applicant's employment did not contribute to his ailment to a significant degree as required by the relevant legislation.