Jensen v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 358

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Jensen v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 358 Appeals from: Jensen v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 2137; 337 FLR 191 Palframan v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 2225 Goodwin v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 2224

File numbers: VID 1130 of 2018 VID 1136 of 2018 VID 1137 of 2018

Judge: WHEELAHAN J

Date of judgment: 19 March 2020

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – appeals from the Federal Circuit Court – appeals by way of rehearing – whether actors engaged for the performance of a travelling theatrical show were independent contractors or employees – multi-factorial test of the totality of the parties' relationship – indicia for distinguishing between independent contractors and employees – relevance of alleged casual employment on particular indicia – appellants were independent contractors – appeals dismissed. EVIDENCE – application of Briginshaw or s 140(2) of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) to the civil standard of proof – whether the preliminary issue of determining the independent contractor-employee distinction itself involves allegations of gravity – s 140(2) of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) not applied in determining that preliminary issue.

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 45, 323, 340, 357, 536, 546 and 548 Federal Court of Australia Act 1979 (Cth) s 24(1)(d)

Cases cited: ACE Insurance Ltd v Trifunovski and Others (2013) 209 FCR 146 AGL Victoria Pty Ltd v SPI Networks (Gas) Pty Ltd [2006] VSCA 173 Aldi Foods Pty Ltd v Moroccanoil Israel Ltd (2018) 261 FCR 301 Allesch v Maunz (2000) 2003 CLR 172 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall (2017) 269 IR 28 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall (2018) 261 FCR 347 Australian Mutual Provident Society v Chaplin (1978) 18 ALR 385 Boensch v Pascoe (2019) 94 ALJR 112 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia v Odco Pty Ltd (1991) 29 FCR 104 Climaze Holdings Pty Ltd v Dyson (1995) 13 WAR 487 Cohen & Co v Ockerby & Co Ltd (1917) 24 CLR 288 Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Producers and Citizen Co-operative Assurance Company of Australia Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 1806 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (2015) 230 FCR 298 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544 Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 Fair Work Ombudsman v Ecosway Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 296 Fair Work Ombudsman v Quest South Perth Holdings Pty Ltd (2015) 228 FCR 346 Fair Work Ombudsman v Quest South Perth Holdings Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 137 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Barrett (1973) 129 CLR 395 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v J Walter Thompson (Australia) Pty Ltd (1944) 69 CLR 227 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Garcia v National Australia Bank Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 395 Hall (Inspector of Taxes) v Lorimer [1992] 1 WLR 939 Hollis v Vabu (2001) 207 CLR 21 Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union v Arnotts Biscuits Limited (2010) 188 FCR 221 London Australia Investment Company Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1977) 138 CLR 106 Lopez v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2005) 43 FCR 574 NM Superannuation Pty Ltd v Young (1993) 41 FCR 182 Marshall v Whittaker's Building Supply Company (1963) 109 CLR 210 Massey v Crown Life Insurance Co [1978] 1 WLR 678 Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations v Gribbles Radiology Pty Ltd (2005) 222 CLR 194 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 357 ALR 408 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507 Narich Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax [1983] 2 NSWLR 597 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449 On Call Interpreters and Translators Agency Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (No 3) (2011) 214 FCR 82 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 Patrick Stevedores v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (2019) 286 IR 52 Qantas Airways Limited v Gama (2008) 167 FCR 537 R v Foster; Ex parte Commonwealth Life (Amalgamated) Assurances Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 138 Re Australian Industrial Relations Commission; ex parte Australian Transport Officers Federation (1990) 171 CLR 216 Re Porter; Re Transport Workers Union of Australia (1989) 34 IR 179 Robinson Helicopter Company Inc v McDermott (2016) 331 ALR 550 Roy Morgan Research Centre Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (1997) 37 ATT 528 Roy Morgan Centre Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2010) 184 FCR 448 Setka v Gregor (No 2) (2011) 195 FCR 203 Sparks v Hobson (2018) 361 ALR 115 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 Tattsbet Ltd v Morrow (2015) 233 FCR 46 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Western Australia v Ward (2002) 203 CLR 172 Whitby v ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1934 Wotton v State of Queensland (No 5) (2015) 352 ALR 146 Zuijs v Wirth Bros Pty Ltd (1955) 93 CLR 561