Belan v National Union of Workers - New South Wales Branch [2018] FCAFC 239

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Belan v National Union of Workers – New South Wales Branch [2018] FCAFC 239 File number: NSD 173 of 2018

Judges: RARES, PERRY AND CHARLESWORTH JJ

Date of judgment: 21 December 2018

Catchwords: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether "any court of the Commonwealth" can mean a body not exercising the judicial power of the Commonwealth" – whether statute precluding admissibility of evidence before royal commission in any court of the Commonwealth applies to proceedings in the Fair Work Commission STATUTORY INTERPRETATION –- whether disadvantage caused "for or on account of" use of transcript of evidence given in royal commission by Fair Work Commission

Legislation: Constitution Ch III, s 71 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) 140 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Pt 3.2, ss 387, 570, 575 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 20 Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) s 25A Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth) ss 6DD, 6M, 6N, 6P

Cases cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v DB Management Pty Ltd (2000) 199 CLR 321 Baker v Patrick Projects Pty Ltd (2014) 226 FCR 302 Nick Belan v National Union of Workers - New South Wales Branch [2016] FWC 8538 Nick Belan v National Union of Workers–New South Wales Branch [2016] FWC 8538 Nick Belan v National Union of Workers–New South Wales Branch [2017] FWC 5027 Nick Belan v National Union of Workers–New South Wales Branch [2018] FWCFB 94 X v Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (2007) 226 CLR 630

Date of hearing: 22 August 2018