Transport Workers’ Union of New South Wales v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2008] FCAFC 26

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Transport Workers' Union of New South Wales v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2008] FCAFC 26 INDUSTRIAL LAW – industrial action – order of Australian Industrial Relations Commission that industrial action stop, not occur and not be organised – Commission found that industrial action was happening – no finding as to whether industrial action threatened, impending or probable, or being organised – mandatory duty to make orders – whether jurisdiction to make orders that industrial action stop and not be organised INDUSTRIAL LAW – industrial action – order of Australian Industrial Relations Commission binding union registered solely under State law and not a transitionally registered association – whether power to make order – whether legislative intention to exclude rule that corporation is a person – whether State-registered associations that are not transitionally registered associations fall outside scheme of legislation INDUSTRIAL LAW – industrial action – form of Australian Industrial Relations Commission's order – order expressed to bind officers, delegates and employees of union, whether involved with industrial action or not – order expressed to bind employees eligible to be members of union, whether members or not – no prior notice to anyone other than union that order sought – requirements of procedural fairness – whether union represents interests of employees ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – remedies – mandamus and certiorari – parts of order of Australian Industrial Relations Commission beyond jurisdiction, other parts within jurisdiction, whether other parts affected by jurisdictional error unclear – period for which order operated expired – no real possibility of proceedings for contravention of order – whether futile to grant mandamus – whether certiorari should be granted as stand-alone remedy – whether Court should attempt to separate valid from invalid elements of order in abstract WORDS AND PHRASES – "person", "organisation" Constitution s 75(v) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 22(1)(a), 22(2) Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) (repealed) ss 6(1), 21(1), 29(c), 36(2), 38(e), 38(f), 40, 44(1), 46(1), 47(1), 50(1), 60(3), 61(e), 62(1), 70K(2), 87, 109(1)(b), 110(2), 110(3), 119(1), 119(1A), 119(1B), 172, 173, 177(1) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 23 Industrial Relations Act 1988 (Cth) (repealed) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) ss 39B(1), 44, 44(3)(a) Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) ss 4(1), 4(5), 9, 16(1)(a), 16(2)(c), 16(3)(m), 16(6), 43(1) (repealed), 45(3)(a) (repealed), 45(3)(d) (repealed), 45A(5) (repealed), 101, 119(1), 119(6)(a), 120(3)(a), 120(3)(g), 120(5), 127(1) (repealed), 127(4) (repealed), 127(5A) (repealed), 127(8) (repealed), 170CJ (repealed), 356 (repealed), 413(1)(b) (repealed), 413A(1)(b) (repealed), 420, 487(1), 487(1)(b), 496, 658(8)(b), 824(1), 841(b), 848(1)(b), 849(1)(b), Sch 1, Sch 10 cl 1(1)(a), Sch 10 cl 2(1), Sch 10 cl 2(6), Sch 10 cl 3 Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 (Cth)