Employment Advocate v Williamson [2001] FCA 1164

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Employment Advocate v Williamson [2001] FCA 1164

INDUSTRIAL LAW – organisation – freedom of association – freedom not to belong to trade union – shop steward on construction site – statements to representative of contractor – no particular employee or prospective employee in contemplation – whether statements constituted advice encouragement or incitement to take action which, if taken, would have constituted taking action for a prohibited reason EVIDENCE – improperly obtained – power to admit – whether discretionary – factors to be taken into account WORDS AND PHRASES – "propose" – "does not propose to" – "do not propose to" – "advise, encourage or incite"

Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) s 298A, 298K, 298L, 298P(3), 298U, 298V, 298X Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 55, 138 Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1958 (Cth) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 15AB Listening Devices Act 1969 (Vic) s 4 Federal Court Rules O 4 r 6, O 10 r 1

Burgess v John Connell-Mott, Hay and Anderson Pty Ltd (1979) 37 FLR 386, cited Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449, followed Hamberger v Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union [2000] FCA 1924, considered Employment Advocate v National Union of Workers [2000] FCA 710; 100 FCR 454, considered Bennett v Milliner (1959) 1 FLR 312, considered Butera v Director of Public Prosecutions for the State of Victoria (1987) 164 CLR 180, cited Bunning v Cross (1978) 141 CLR 54, applied R v Swaffield (1998) 192 CLR 159, followed Norbis v Norbis (1986) 161 CLR 513, cited Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378, cited Ridgeway v R (1995) 184 CLR 19, applied Dau v Emanuele (1995) 60 FCR 270, applied Turner v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1981) 55 FLR 180, cited Flentjar v Repatriation Commission (1997) 48 ALD 1, cited Snook v London and West Riding Investments Ltd [1967] 2 QB 786, cited Saffron v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1991) 91 ATC 4501, cited Banque Commerciale SA, en liquidation v Akhil Holdings Limited (1990) 169 CLR 279, cited Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658, cited McCarthy v McIntyre [1999] FCA 784, cited Ting v Blanche (1993) 118 ALR 543, considered Igaki Australia Pty Ltd v Coastmine Pty Ltd (1996) 34 IPR 37, cited Cummings v Lewis (1993) 41 FCR 559, cited Metwally v University of Wollongong (1985) 60 ALR 68, cited Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1, cited Water Board v Moustakas (1988) 180 CLR 491, cited Riseda Nominees Pty Ltd v St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) Ltd [1988] 2 VR 70, cited Electricity Commission of New South Wales v Yates (1991) 30 NSWLR 351, cited