Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Upton (The Gorgon Project Case) [2017] FCA 847

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Upton (The Gorgon Project Case) [2017] FCA 847 File number: WAD 334 of 2016

Judge: BARKER J

Date of judgment: 21 September 2017

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – alleged contraventions of ss 346(a), 348 and 500 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) – whether first respondent took "adverse action" against non-union employees – whether first respondent threatened non-union employees with intent to coerce non-union employees to engage in industrial activity – whether first respondent acted in "improper manner" – whether second respondent liable for conduct of first respondent under s 793 – accessorial liability under s 550 – combined operation of s 793 and s 550(1)

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 12, 342, 342(1), 342(2), 346, 346(a), 347, 347(a), 348, 361, 361(1), 363, 363(1)(b), 484, 500, 550, 550(2), 793, 793(1), 793(2), Pt 3-1, Pt 3-4 Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012 (Cth) s 4(1), s 5

Cases cited: A&L Silvestri Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2007) 165 IR 94; [2007] FCA 1047 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Huddy (No 2) [2017] FCA 1088 Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (The Australian Paper Case) [2017] FCA 167 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall [2017] FCA 274 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v McDermott (No 2) [2017] FCA 797 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v McLoughlin (2007) 165 IR 369 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Parker [2017] FCA 564 Australian Competition & Consumer Commission v IMB Group Pty Ltd [2003] FCAFC 17 Australian Workers Union v Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd [2013] FCAFC 4 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Clarke (2007) 164 IR 299; [2007] FCAFC 87 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Director of Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2016) 338 ALR 360; [2016] HCA 41 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v John Holland Pty Ltd (2010) 186 FCR 88; [2010] FCAFC 90 Darlaston v Parker (2010) 189 FCR 1; [2010] FCA 771 Director of Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (The Red & Blue Case) (2015) 254 IR 200; [2015] FCA 1125 Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Cartledge (2015) 239 FCR 405; [2015] FCA 453 Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2016] FCA 413 Director of the Fair Work Building Inspectorate v Robinson [2016] FCA 225 Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Myles [2013] FCCA 2229 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2016) 258 IR 396; [2016] FCAFC 72 Giorgianni v The Queen (1985) 156 CLR 473; [1985] HCA 29 Gregor v Setka (2010) 199 IR 267 Hamberger v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2002] FCA 585 Hamilton v Whitehead (1988) 63 ALJR 80; [1988] HCA 65 Hanley v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (2000) 100 FCR 530; [2000] FCA 1188 Hogan v Riley (2010) 182 FCR 583; [2010] FCAFC 30 Independent Commissioner Against Corruption v Cuneen (2015) 89 ALJR 475; [2015] HCA 14 John Holland Pty Ltd v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (2009) 174 FCR 526; [2009] FCA 235 John Holland Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2011) 195 FCR 280; [2011] FCA 770 Mallan v Lee (1949) 80 CLR 198 at 211; [1949] HCA 48 Maritime Union of Australia v Fair Work Ombudsman [2016] FCAFC 102 Maroney v The Queen (2003) 216 CLR 31; [2003] HCA 63 Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd v Cassidy (2003) 135 FCR 1; [2003] FCAFC 289 National Tertiary Education Industry Union v Commonwealth (2002) 117 FCR 114; [2002] FCA 441 New South Wales v Lepore (2003) 212 CLR 511; [2003] HCA 4 Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2008) 177 IR 118 Pereira v Director of Public Prosecutions (1988) 82 ALR 217; [1988] HCA 57 Prince Alfred College Incorporated v ADC (2016) 258 CLR 134; [2016] HCA 37 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Qantas Airways Ltd v Transport Workers' Union of Australia (2011) 211 IR 1; [2011] FCA 470 R v Byrnes (1995) 183 CLR 501; [1995] HCA 1 R v Tyrell (1894) 1 QB 710 Rafferty v Madgwicks (2012) 203 FCR 1; [2012] FCAFC 37 Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 216 CLR 53; [2003] HCA 75 Setka v Gregor (No 2) (2011) 195 FCR 203; [2011] FCAFC 90 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661; [1985] HCA 65