The case provides a comprehensive summary of the principles governing res judicata, issue estoppel, Anshun estoppel and abuse of process by re-litigation, as applied to serial proceedings arising from the same employment dispute. Under ss 4 and 5 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1992 (SA), the Minister for Education forms part of the Crown and the State of South Australia is the proper defendant, rendering joinder of the Minister as a separate defendant inutile. Commencing parallel proceedings with identical pleadings against different defendants to overcome difficulties in existing proceedings constitutes an abuse of process.
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