Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v McCullough [2016] FCA 1291

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v McCullough [2016] FCA 1291 File number: WAD 98 of 2015

Judge: BARKER J

Date of judgment: 2 November 2016

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – whether respondents engaged in industrial action in contravention of s 417(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) – whether respondents covered by relevant enterprise agreements – whether respondents' employer authorised or agreed to the action – whether failure to attend work was of an "industrial character" – whether evidence sufficient to found reasonable inferences that respondents' failure to attend work was "industrial action" EVIDENCE – whether evidence is coincidence evidence under s 98 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) – whether coincidence evidence nonetheless admissible under s 98 exceptions – whether to direct that coincidence evidence rule is not to apply under s 100 despite failure to give notice EVIDENCE – whether counsel allowed to question witness as though cross-examining witness under s 38 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth)

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 13, 13(3), 15AB Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 (Cth) s 36(1) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 38, 38(1)(a), 98, 98(1), 98(1)(a), 98(1)(b), 100, 100(2), 100(3), 100(5)(b), 192, 192(2) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 3, 11, 19, 19(1), 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b), 19(1)(c), 19(1)(d), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 25, 40A, 42, 60, 98, 133, 170, 172(2), 180(2), 180(3), 180(5), 181(2), 185(2)(b), 186, 187, 188, 259, 283, 301, 322, 335, 380, 407, 417, 417(1), 417(1)(a), 417(2), 479, 523, 529, 538, 539, 546, 546(1), 546(3)(a), 561, 574, 680, 720, 736, 742, 768AB, 770, 789AB, 791, Ch 2 Pt 2-8, Ch 3 Pt 3-6, Chs 4, 5, 6 Evidence Regulations 1995 (Cth) reg 6(3) Fair Work Australia Rules 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) R 30.32