Fair Work Ombudsman v Grouped Property Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCA 557

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fair Work Ombudsman v Grouped Property Services Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCA 557 File number: NSD 659 of 2014

Judge: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 24 May 2017

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW — compensation and penalties — pecuniary penalty — appropriate penalty to be imposed — multiple contraventions of Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and industrial awards — applicable penalty where value of penalty unit increased during period of contraventions — whether multiple contraventions should be grouped and treated as a single contravention — whether contraventions arose out of a single course of conduct — application of totality principle PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — application by successful party to vary earlier orders and judgment — proper application of slip rule — Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), r 39.05 Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth), s 7(2)(d) Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth), ss 58(3), 82 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 4AA, 4F Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious Drugs, Identity Crime and Other Measures) Act 2012 (Cth) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), ss 16(1), 44, 45, 86, 87, 90, 99, 116, 117, 293, 323, 340, 357, 535(2), 536(1), 539(2), 544, 545, 546, 547, 549, 557, 570 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 51A(1) Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), r 39.05 Explanatory Memorandum to the Fair Work Bill 2008 (Cth) Cases cited: Attorney-General (SA) v Tichy (1982) 30 SASR 84 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Inner Strength Steel Fixing Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 499 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2017] FCAFC 53 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd (1997) 145 ALR 36 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 181 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd v McAlary-Smith (2008) 165 FCR 560 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate; Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate [2015] HCA 46, (2015) 90 ALJR 113, 255 IR 87, 326 ALR 476 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v QR Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 652 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill [2010] FCAFC 39; (2010) 269 ALR 1 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Williams [2009] FCAFC 171; (2009) 262 ALR 417 Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Stephenson [2014] FCA 1432; (2014) 146 ALD 75 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2015) 229 FCR 331 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Foxville Projects Group Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 492 Fair Work Ombudsman v AJR Nominees Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] FCA 128 Fair Work Ombudsman v Grouped Property Services Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 1034; (2016) 152 ALD 209 Fair Work Ombudsman v Jetstar Airways Ltd [2014] FCA 33 Fair Work Ombudsman v Kentwood Industries Pty Ltd (No 3) [2011] FCA 579 Fair Work Ombudsman v Lifestyle SA Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1151 Fair Work Ombudsman v South Jin Pty Ltd (No 2) [2016] FCA 832 Fair Work Ombudsman v Taj Palace Tandoori Indian Restaurant Pty Ltd [2012] FMCA 258 Fair Work Ombudsman v Pucci [2011] FMCA 997 Fryar v System Services Pty Ltd (1996) 137 ALR 321 General Manager of the Fair Work Commission v Thomson (No 4) [2015] FCA 1433 Kelly v Fitzpatrick [2007] FCA 1080 Legal Services Commissioner v O'Donnell [2015] NSWCATOD 17 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mornington Inn Pty Ltd v Jordan (2008) 168 FCR 383 Murrihy v Betezy.com.au Pty Ltd (No 2) (2013) 221 FCR 118 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610 QR Ltd v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia [2010] FCAFC 150; (2010) 204 IR 142 R v McInerney (1986) 42 SASR 111 R v White (BC9101745, NSWCCA, 25 July 1991, unreported) Re Gillies; Ex Parte Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (1993) 42 FCR 571 Rocky Holdings Pty Ltd v Fair Work Ombudsman (2014) 221 FCR 153 Royer v Western Australia [2009] WASCA 139 Samuels v Songalia (1977) 16 SASR 397 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2012] FCAFC 20; (2012) 287 ALR 249 TPG Internet Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 210 FCR 277 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584