Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall [2017] FCA 274

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall [2017] FCA 274 File number: ACD 65 of 2015

Judge: FLICK J

Date of judgment: 22 March 2017

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – the taking of adverse action – the exercise of a workplace right INDUSTRIAL LAW – intent to coerce – negation of choice INDUSTRIAL LAW – accessorial liability – vicarious liability of Union INDUSTRIAL LAW – Briginshaw standard of proof – reverse onus of proof – reverse onus on balance of probabilities EVIDENCE – arrangement with prosecutor in criminal case to co-operate with Director – reliability of evidence – unreliability of reliance upon demeanour of a witness

Legislation: Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth) s 5(4) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 91, 191, 140, 164 Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012 (Cth) s 4 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 12, 340, 341, 342(1), 343, 346, 348, 355, 360, 361, 362, 550, 793 Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) ss 170NC, 298K(1) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT) s 195

Cases cited: Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Australian Federation of Air Pilots [1991] 1 VR 637 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (No 3) [2002] FCA 1294, (2002) ATPR ¶41-901 Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association v International Aviation Service Assistance Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 333, (2011) 193 FCR 526 Australian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Belandra Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 910, (2003) 126 IR 165 Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union v Visy Packaging Pty Ltd (No 3) [2013] FCA 525, (2013) 216 FCR 70 BHP Coal Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2013] FCA 1291, (2013) 239 IR 363 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay [2012] HCA 32, (2012) 248 CLR 500 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2007] FCAFC 132, (2007) 162 FCR 466 Community and Public Sector Union v Telstra Corporation Ltd [2001] FCA 267, (2001) 107 FCR 93 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Anglo Coal (Dawson Services) Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 157, (2015) 238 FCR 273 Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union v Anglo Coal (Capcoal Management) Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 1582 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Clermont Coal Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 1014, (2015) 253 IR 166 Craig v Silverbrook [2013] NSWSC 1687 Darlaston v Parker [2010] FCA 771, (2010) 189 FCR 1 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 1125, (2015) 254 IR 200 Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (No 2) [2015] FCA 1462 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v The Australian Workers' Union [2016] FCAFC 72, (2016) 258 IR 396 Fair Work Ombudsman v Maritime Union of Australia [2014] FCA 440, (2014) 243 IR 312 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22, (2003) 214 CLR 118 General Motors-Holden's Pty Ltd v Bowling (1976) 51 ALJR 235 Giorgianni v The Queen (1984) 156 CLR 473 Hanley v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union [2000] FCA 1188, (2000) 100 FCR 530 Jenkins v The Queen [2004] HCA 57, (2004) 79 ALJR 252 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kennewell v MG & CG Atkins [2015] FCA 716 Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union v Arnotts Biscuits Ltd [2010] FCA 770, (2010) 188 FCR 221 National Tertiary Education Industry Union v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCA 441, (2002) 117 FCR 114 National Tertiary Education Union v Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology [2013] FCA 451, (2013) 234 IR 139 Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Pty Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia (No 3) (1998) 195 CLR 1 Port Kembla Coal Terminal Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2016] FCAFC 99 Qantas Airways Ltd v Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association [2012] FCAFC 63, (2012) 202 FCR 244 R v Kivalu [2016] ACTSC 138 R v MG [2016] NSWCCA 304 RailPro Services Pty Ltd v Flavel [2015] FCA 504 Seven Network (Operations) Ltd v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia [2001] FCA 456, (2001) 109 FCR 378 Tsilibakis v Transfield Services (Australia) Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 740 Victoria v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2013] FCAFC 160, (2013) 218 FCR 172 Victoria (Office of Public Prosecutions) v Grant [2014] FCAFC 184, (2014) 246 IR 441 Wroughton v Catholic Education Office Diocese of Parramatta [2015] FCA 1236