Fair Work Ombudsman v Pocomwell Limited (No 2) [2013] FCA 1139

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fair Work Ombudsman v Pocomwell Limited (No 2) [2013] FCA 1139 Citation: Fair Work Ombudsman v Pocomwell Limited (No 2) [2013] FCA 1139

Parties: FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN v POCOMWELL LIMITED, SUPPLY OILFIELD AND MARINE SERVICES INC, SURVEY SPEC PTY LTD and THOMAS CIVIELLO

File number: WAD 241 of 2011

Judge: BARKER J

Date of judgment: 1 November 2013

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – alleged contraventions of Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) arising from payment of Filipino nationals working on rigs in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone – whether s 33(1)(b) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) should be read down having regard to international law – whether reg 1.15E Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) should be read down or is ultra vires having regard to international law – whether rigs "fixed platforms" under Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) – whether rigs "majority Australian-crewed ships" under Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) – whether relevant award covered first respondent – whether, if first respondent contravened Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), other respondents knowingly involved in contraventions

Legislation: Constitution s 51(xx) Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 2B, s 13(1), s 15AA, s 15AB, s 15AB(1), s 15AB(2), s 15B(1)(b), s 15B(4)(a)(i), s 17(a) Crimes (Ships and Fixed Platforms) Act 1992 (Cth) Sch 1, Sch 2 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 174 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 3, s 4(1), s 5(1), s 5(3), s 5(4), s 6, s 13, s 14(1), s 12, s 31(1), s 33, s 33(1)(a), s 33(1)(b), s 33(1)(c), s 33(1)(d), s 33(3), s 35(2), s 46, s 47, s 48, s 293, s 545(2)(b), s 546, s 546(3)(a), s 547, s 550, s 550(2)(c) Navigation Act 1912 (Cth) s 6(1), s 10, s 286, s 288 Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (Cth) s 13(1)(a) Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth) s 3(1) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 75B(c) Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) Pt 10A Fair Work Amendment Regulations 2009 (No. 1) (Cth) Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2009 (Cth) reg 501 Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) reg 1.15B, reg 1.15C, reg 1.15E, reg 1.15E(5), reg 1.15F Workplace Relations Regulations 2006 (Cth) s 576C(4) 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, opened for signature 4 August 1995, 2167 UNTS 88 (entered into force 11 December 2001) Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Maritime Navigation, opened for signature 10 March 1988, 1678 UNTS 221 (entered into force 1 March 1992) art 1, art 17 Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, opened for signature 29 April 1958, 559 UNTS 285 (entered into force 20 March 1966) Convention on the Continental Shelf, opened for signature 29 April 1958, 499 UNTS 311 (entered into force 10 June 1964) art 2(1) Convention on the High Seas, opened for signature 29 April 1958, 450 UNTS 11 (entered into force 30 September 1962) art 5(1), art 10(1)(b), art 11 Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, opened for signature 29 April 1958, 516 UNTS 206 (entered into force 10 September 1964) Maritime Labour Convention, opened for signature 7 February 2006, 45 ILM 792 (entered into force 20 August 2013) reg 2.1, reg 2.2 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, opened for signature 10 March 1988, 1678 UNTS 304 (entered into force 1 March 1992) art 1(1), art 1(3), art 5 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, opened for signature on 10 December 1982, 1833 UNTS 397 (entered into force 16 November 1994) art 2, art 3, art 4, art 17, art 21, art 56, art 56(1)(a), art 56(2), art 56(3), art 58, art 58(2), art 58(3), art 60, art 60(1)(b), art 77, art 77(1), art 77(2), art 78, art 78(2), art 79(2), art 87, art 87(1)(a), art 92, art 92(1), art 94, art 94(1), art 94(2)(b), art 94(3)(b)