CPB Contractors Pty Limited v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2019] FCAFC 70

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

CPB Contractors Pty Limited v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2019] FCAFC 70 File number: NSD 1960 of 2018

Judges: FLICK, O'CALLAGHAN AND WHEELAHAN JJ

Date of judgment: 2 May 2019

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – enterprise agreements – whether coverage clause unlawful for the purposes of s 194(ba) of the Fair Work Act – clause was not inconsistent with s 58(2) of the FW Act – s 194(ba) directed to clauses that provide for methods of election for employees or employers to opt out of enterprise agreements – clause 3.3 of the agreement did not engage s 194(ba) as it did not provide for any method of election – the making and approval of a new enterprise agreement does not constitute election – application allowed in part. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – reference to secondary and extrinsic materials – when such reference is necessary to identify the context and purpose of a statutory provision

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 15AA, 15AB Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 40A, 51, 52, 53, 58, 186, 194(ba), 562, 563(b) Fair Work Amendment Act 2012 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 21, 22 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B

Cases cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Akiba v The Commonwealth (2013) 250 CLR 209 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) [2009] HCA 41; 239 CLR 27 Aldi Foods Pty Ltd v Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association [2017] HCA 53; 350 ALR 381 CPB Contractors Pty Limited [2018] FWC 2580 Bowtell v Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd (1905) 3 CLR 444 Catlow v Accident Compensation Commission (1989) 167 CLR 543 Chugg v Pacific Dunlop Ltd (1990) 170 CLR 249 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Unit Trend Services Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 523 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 107; 280 IR 46 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v CPB Contractors Pty Ltd [2018] FWCFB 5773 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v CPB Contractors Pty Limited [2018] FWCFB 5773 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Deputy President Hamberger (2011) 195 FCR 74 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v John Holland Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 16; 228 FCR 297 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Mammoet Australia Pty Ltd (2013) 248 CLR 619 CPB Contractors Pty Limited [2018] FWC 1796 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd [2012] HCA 55; 250 CLR 503 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Jayasinghe [2016] FCAFC 79; 247 FCR 40 K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 519 Lacey v Attorney-General (Queensland) [2011] HCA 10; 242 CLR 573 Li v Chief of Army (2013) 250 CLR 328 MI&E Holdings Pty Ltd v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia [2015] FCAFC 15, (2015) 228 FCR 483 MI&E Holdings Pty Ltd v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia [2015] FCAFC 15; 228 FCR 483 Newlands Coal Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2011] FWAFB 7325 Plaintiff M61/2010E v The Commonwealth (The Offshore Processing Case) [2010] HCA 41; 243 CLR 319 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300 Re Bolton; Ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514 Saeed v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2010] HCA 23; 241 CLR 252 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] HCA 34; 347 ALR 405 Thiess v Collector of Customs [2014] HCA 12; 250 CLR 664 Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd v Marmara [2014] FCAFC 84; 222 FCR 152 Weiss v R [2005] HCA 81; 224 CLR 300 Wingfoot Australia Partners Pty Ltd v Kocak [2013] HCA 43; 252 CLR 480 McCallum, Moore and Edwards, Towards more productive and equitable workplaces: An evaluation of the Fair Work legislation, 2012