Menzies v Fair Work Commission [2020] FCA 36

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Menzies v Fair Work Commission [2020] FCA 36 File number: NSD 1780 of 2018

Judge: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 4 February 2020

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW — judicial review of decision of Full Bench of Fair Work Commission to refuse permission to appeal — whether decision affected by jurisdictional error — alleged errors relating to weight to be attached to factors in s 366(2) of Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), legal representation for employer in preparation of submissions; alleged failure of Commission to comply with Code of Conduct — apprehended bias — circumstances in which parties may be legally represented in matters before Fair Work Commission —whether employment backgrounds of members of Fair Work Commission before appointments to Commission gives rise to apprehended bias — whether alleged failure to comply with Code of Conduct constitutes jurisdictional error

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 44(1), 125, 365, 366, 400, 562, 563, 569, 569A, 570, 577(a), 581B, 596, 604(1), 609, 613(1), 626(1), 627, 789, Pts 2-3, 2-6, 3-1, 5-1 div 5 Fair Work Commission Rules 2013 (Cth) r 12 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 37N, 37M, 53A Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ss 420(1), 353(1)

Cases cited: Abebe v The Commonwealth of Australia (1999) 197 CLR 510 Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1 Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union v Fair Work Australia (No 2) (2012) 203 FCR 430 Australian Workers Union v Leighton Contractors Pty Limited (No 2) (2013) 232 FCR 428 Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union v ALS Industrial Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 235 FCR 305 Baker v Patrick Projects Pty Ltd (2014) 226 FCR 302 Coal & Allied Mining Services Pty Ltd v Lawler (2011) 192 FCR 78 Coal and Allied Operations Pty Limited v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 203 CLR 194 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337 Ex parte Hebburn Ltd; Re Kearsley Shire Council (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 416; 64 WN (NSW) 107 Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Foxville Projects Group Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 492 Fitzgerald v Woolworths [2017] FWCFB 2797 George v Fletcher (a trustee) [2012] FCAFC 148 Laws v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal (1990) 170 CLR 70 Livesey v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 Menzies v Lindsay Australia Limited t/a Lindsay Brothers Management [2018] FWC 1850 Menzies v Lindsay Australia Limited t/a Lindsay Brothers Management [2018] FWCFB 1037 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited (1986) 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332 Minister for Immigration v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507 Mwango v Fair Work Commission [2019] FCA 1274 Nulty v Blue Star Group Pty Ltd (2011) 203 IR 1 Periklis Stogiannidis v Victorian Frozen Foods Distributors Pty Ltd t/as Richmond Oysters [2018] FWCFB 901 Re Commonwealth of Australia; Ex parte Marks (2000) 75 ALJR 470 Re Finance Sector Union of Australia; Ex parte Illaton Pty Ltd (1992) 66 ALJR 583 Re Polites; Ex parte Hoyts Corporation Pty Ltd (1991) 173 CLR 78 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82 ResMed Limited v Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (2015) 232 FCR 152 Spotless Services Australia Ltd v The Honourable Senior Deputy President Jeanette Marsh [2004] FCAFC 155 Teys Australia Beenleigh Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (2015) 234 FCR 405 Trustee for The MTGI Trust v Johnston [2016] FCAFC 140 Warrell v Walton [2013] FCA 291; (2013) 233 IR 335