Alam v National Australia Bank Limited [2021] FCAFC 178

Federal Court of Australia

Alam v National Australia Bank Limited [2021] FCAFC 178 Appeal from: Alam v National Australia Bank Limited (No 2) [2020] FCCA 2491

File number: NSD 1176 of 2020

Judgment of: WHITE, O'CALLAGHAN AND COLVIN JJ

Date of judgment: 8 October 2021

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – appeal against the dismissal of an adverse action claim – Appellant claimed that her employment had been terminated because of her exercise, and proposed exercise, of her workplace right to make complaints or inquiries in relation to her employment – whether the primary Judge erred in failing to consider whether each alleged complaint or inquiry was one to which s 341(1)(c) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) referred – whether the primary Judge erred in failing to apply s 361 of the FW Act in relation to each of the alleged complaints or inquiries – whether the Appellant was denied procedural fairness – appeal allowed in part.

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law s 31 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 98, 99, 100 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 340, 341, 342, 360, 361, Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 28(1)(c)

Cases cited: Alam v National Australia Bank Limited (No 2) [2020] FCCA 2491 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall [2018] FCAFC 83; (2018) 261 FCR 347 Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association v International Aviation Service Assistance Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 333, (2011) 193 FCR 526 Australian Red Cross Society v Queensland Nurses' Union of Employees [2019] FCAFC 215, 273 FCR 332 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay [2012] HCA 32; (2012) 248 CLR 500 Cigarette & Gift Warehouse Pty Ltd v Whelan [2019] FCAFC 16; (2019) 268 FCR 46 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Anglo Coal (Dawson Services) Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 157; (2015) 238 FCR 273 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd [2014] HCA 41; (2014) 253 CLR 243 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 1218 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Endeavour Coal Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 76, (2015) 231 FCR 150 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 697 Cummins South Pacific Pty Ltd v Keenan [2020] FCAFC 204; (2020) 302 IR 400 Flageul v WeDrive Pty Ltd [2021] FCAFC 102 General Motors–Holden's Pty Ltd v Bowling (1976) 136 CLR 676; (1976) 12 ALR 605 Hill v Compass Ten Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 761; (2012) 205 FCR 94 Maric v Ericsson Australia Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 452; (2020) 293 IR 442 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; ex parte Lam [2003] HCA 6; (2003) 214 CLR 1 Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs v FAK19 [2021] FCAFC 153 Murrihy v Betezy.com.au Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 908, (2013) 238 IR 307 MZAPC v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2021] HCA 17 National Tertiary Education Industry Union v University of Sydney [2020] FCA 1709 National Territory Education Union v Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology [2013] FCA 451; (2013) 234 IR 139 PIA Mortgage Services Pty Ltd v King [2020] FCAFC 15; (2020) 274 FCR 225 Salama v Sydney Trains [2021] FCA 251 SBP Employment Solutions Pty Ltd v Smith [2021] FCA 601 Shea v TRUenergy Services Pty Ltd (No 6) [2014] FCA 271, (2014) 242 IR 1 Shea v EnergyAustralia Services Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 167; (2014) 242 IR 159 Short v Ambulance Victoria [2015] FCAFC 55; (2015) 249 IR 217 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission [1986] HCA 54; (1986) 161 CLR 141 Tattsbet Ltd v Morrow [2015] FCAFC 63; (2015) 233 FCR 46 TechnologyOne Ltd v Roohizadegan [2021] FCAFC 137 Whelan v Cigarette & Gift Warehouse Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1534; (2017) 275 IR 285 Wong v National Australia Bank Limited [2021] FCA 671 Zhang v Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc [2005] FCAFC 99; (2005) 144 FCR 347