Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1758

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1758 CONTEMPT – order restraining "strike action" by a union – whether the union complied with the order – meaning of "immediately" – standard of proof required for a contempt – role of particulars in a statement of charge – whether the particulars supported the alleged contempt. Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) s 127 Dorsman v Nichol (1978) 20 ALR 231 at 237 referred to Measures v McFadyen (1910) 11 CLR 723 at 736 referred to Kent Free Press v NGA [1987] IRLR 267 referred to BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2000) 102 IR 275 cited Iberian Trust Ltd v Founders Trust and Investment Co Ltd [1932] 2 KB 87 at 95 cited United Steelworkers of America Local 663 v Anaconda Company (Canada) Ltd (1969) 67 WWR 744 cited Austin Rover Group Ltd v AUEW (TASS) [1985] IRLR 162 cited Re Distillery, Brewery Union 604 v British Columbia Distillery (1975) 57 DLR (3rd) 752 cited Adam Phones Ltd v Goldschmidt [1999] 4 All ER 486 per Jacob Jat 495 cited Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 cited Microsoft Corporation v Marks (1996) 69 FCR 117 cited Hinch v Attorney-General for the State of Victoria (1987) 164 CLR 15 at 49 cited Doyle v The Commonwealth (1985) 156 CLR 510 at 516 cited Coward v Stapleton (1953) 90 CLR 573 at 579-580 cited Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd v Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union (No 2) (1987) 15 FCR 64 at 73 cited Cotroni v Quebec Police Commission (1977) 80 DLR (3rd) 490 at 497 cited Harmsworth v Harmsworth [1987] 1 WLR 1676 at 1683 cited Australian Building Construction Employees' and Builders Labourers' Federation v Minister of State for Industrial Relations (1982) 43 ALR 189 at 206-207 cited In re Bramblevale Ltd [1970] 1 Ch 128 at 137 cited AMIEU v Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd (1986) 161 CLR 98 cited R v Booth [1983] 1 VR 39 cited Australian Consolidated Press Limited v Morgan (1965) 112 CLR 483 cited Australian Industry Group v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printed and Kindred Industries Union [2000] FCA 629 considered The Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union of Australia v John Holland Constructions Pty Limited (1988) 10 ATPR 40-849 cited Seaward v Paterson (1897) 1 Ch 545 cited Esso Australia Resources Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1998) 84 FCR 541 cited Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 considered RPS v The Queen (2000) 199 CLR 620 cited Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 followed Re JRL, ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 cited Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CRL 488 considered Hanneberry v Legal Ombudsman [1998] VSC 142 cited R v Gray [1977] VR 225 cited Cho Hung Yam (1991) 55 A Crim R 116 cited North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Services Inc v Bradley [2001] FCA 908 considered Re Wilcox; Ex parte Venture Industries Pty Ltd (No 2) (1997) 72 FCR 151 cited Borrie & Lowe's Law of Contempt (2nd ed. 1983 at p.379) Lightman QC A Trade Union in Chains: Scargill Unbound – The Legal Constraints of Receivership and Sequestration (1987) CLP 25, 27-28 Lord Wedderburn Contempt of Court: Vicarious Liability of Complaints and Unions (1992) 21 Ind. L.J. 51, 53-56 O'Regan Contempt of Court and the Enforcement of Labour Injunctions (1991) 54 MLR 385, 393-394 CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION v BHP STEEL (AIS) PTY LTD (ACN 000 019 625) Q1 OF 2001; Q68 OF 2001 LEE, FINN AND MERKEL JJ 12 DECEMBER 2001 PERTH (HEARD IN BRISBANE)