Australian Industry Group v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing & Kindred Industries Union [2000] FCA 629

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Industry Group v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing & Kindred Industries Union & Ors [2000] FCA 629 CONTEMPT OF COURT – Whether breach of a court order is deliberate in that it is not merely casual, accidental or unintentional – Whether contempt can be established where there is no breach on one of two possible meanings of the order – Consideration of circumstances in which an order restraining conduct requires that positive action be taken – Whether breach is technical and does not warrant the imposition of a penalty

Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) ss 4(1), 127, 127(6), 127(7) and 298B(1) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 69(1) and 87(1)(c)

Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd v Plumbers & Gasfitters Employees Union (No 2) (1987) 15 FCR 64 - distinguished A.M.I.E.U. v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98 - applied Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 - applied Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Goldstar Corporation Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 585 – considered Iberian Trust Ltd v Founders Trust and Investments Co [1932] 2 K.B. 87 - cited Redwing Ltd v Redwing Forest Products Ltd (1947) 177 L.T. 387 - cited John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd (1960) SR (NSW) 413 - cited Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Morgan (1964) 112 CLR 483 - applied Re Bramblevale Ltd (1969) 3 All ER 1062 - cited Repatriation Commission v Nation (1995) 57 FCR 25 - cited Waterside Workers' Federation of Australasia v Burgess Brothers Ltd (1916) 21 CLR 129 - cited Commonwealth Steamship Owners' Association v Federated Seamen's Union of Australia (1923) 33 CLR 297 – cited GTS Freight Management Pty Ltd v Transport Workers Union (1990) 38 IR 26 – cited R v Macraild BC 9707215 Butterworths Unreported Judgments, Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW) - considered RPS v The Queen (2000) 74 ALJR 449 – applied CEPU v Laing (1998) 159 ALR 73 – cited Matthews v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2000] FCA 288 – cited Gallagher v Durack (1983) 152 CLR 238 - cited