Sayed v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 338

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Sayed v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 338 Citation: Sayed v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 338

Parties: MUHAMMED ALI SAYED v CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION

File number: VID 1072 of 2013

Judge: MORTIMER J

Date of judgment: 13 April 2015

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – penalties – adverse action because of employee's political opinion – three contraventions of s 351 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) – whether contraventions formed one course of conduct – relevant factors in assessment of penalties – seriousness of contraventions – discrimination on basis of political opinion to be subject to strong disapproval – "common informer" rationale for payment of penalties to particular persons or organisations under Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 546(3) – whether penalties and compensation should be ordered to be paid to the same person

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 351, 539, 545, 546, 546(3), 557(1), 570

Cases cited: AB v The Queen (1999) 198 CLR 111; [1999] HCA 46 Attorney-General (SA) v Tichy (1982) 30 SASR 84 Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd v McAlary-Smith (2008) 165 FCR 560; [2008] FCAFC 8 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill (2010) 194 IR 461; [2010] FCAFC 39 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Williams (2009) 262 ALR 417; [2009] FCAFC 171 CPSU, The Community and Public Sector Union v Telstra Corporation Limited (2001) 108 IR 228; [2001] FCA 1364 Dafallah v Fair Work Commission (2014) 225 FCR 559; [2014] FCA 328 Fair Work Ombudsman v Australian Shooting Academy Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 1064 Fair Work Ombudsman v Maclean Bay Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 557 Fair Work Ombudsman v Skilled Offshore (Australia) Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 275 Fair Work Ombudsman v W.K.O. Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 1129 Gibbs v The Mayor, Councillors and Citizens of City of Altona (1992) 37 FCR 216 Johnson v The Queen (2004) 205 ALR 346; [2004] HCA 15 Kelly v Fitzpatrick (2007) 166 IR 14; [2007] FCA 1080 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mason v Harrington Corporation Pty Ltd [2007] FMCA 7 McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd (No 4) (2006) 158 IR 181; [2006] FCA 1302 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 Mornington Inn Pty Ltd v Jordan (2008) 168 FCR 383; [2008] FCAFC 70 Murrihy v Betezy.com.au Pty Ltd (No 2) (2013) 221 FCR 118; [2013] FCA 1146 National Tertiary Education Union v Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (2013) 234 IR 139; [2013] FCA 451 Plancor Pty Ltd v Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (2008) 171 FCR 357; [2008] FCAFC 170 QR Ltd v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (2010) 204 IR 142; [2010] FCAFC 150 R v Faulkner (1972) 56 Cr App R 594 R v Knight (1981) 26 SASR 573 Royer v Western Australia (2009) 197 A Crim R 319; [2009] WASCA 139 Sayed v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 27 Schanka v Employment National (Administration) Pty Ltd (No 2) (2001) 114 FCR 379; [2001] FCA 1623 Seymour v Stawell Timber Industries Pty Ltd (1985) 9 FCR 241; (1985) 13 IR 289 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64