Qantas Airways Ltd v Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association [2020] FCA 682

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Qantas Airways Ltd v Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association [2020] FCA 682 File number: NSD 527 of 2020

Judge: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 19 May 2020

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW — application for interlocutory injunction in the nature of an anti-suit injunction — where respondent applied to Fair Work Commission to arbitrate a dispute about the stand down of licensed aircraft maintenance engineers during the global pandemic, pursuant to dispute resolution clause in enterprise agreements and, after application had been fixed for hearing, applicant commenced proceeding in this Court in connection with same subject matter — where applicant sought interlocutory relief preventing Commission from taking steps, or requiring applicant to take steps, in Commission proceeding, pending resolution of Court proceeding — whether prima facie case for relief — whether balance of convenience and interests of justice favour orders sought

Legislation: Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) s 39B Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 524(1)(c), 562

Cases cited: Amcor Limited v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2005) 223 CLR 241 Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union v Silcar Pty Ltd [2011] FWAFB 2555; 208 IR 33 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation v Japara Healthcare Limited [2018] FWC 3918 Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union v ALS Industrial Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 235 FCR 305 Endeavour Energy v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (2016) 244 FCR 178 Energy Australia Yallourn Pty Ltd v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (2018) 264 FCR 342 Kucks v CSR Ltd (1996) 66 IR 182 Maersk Crewing Australia Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2020] FCA 595 One Tree Community Service Inc v United Voice [2019] FCA 1309 Paul v Linfox Airlines Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 149 Pegasus Leasing Ltd v Cadoroll Pty Ltd (1996) 59 FCR 152 Pickard v John Heine & Son Limited (1924) 35 CLR 1 ResMed Limited v Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) [2016] FCAFC 23 Samsung Electronics Company Ltd v Apple Inc (2011) 217 FCR 238 SSX Services Pty Limited v The Australian Workers' Union [2015] FWCFB 3964 TCL Air Conditioner (Zhongshan) Co Ltd v Judges of the Federal Court of Australia (2013) 251 CLR 533 Teys Australia Beenleigh Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union [2015] FCA 1033 The Australian Workers' Union v MC Labour Services Pty Ltd [2017] FWCFB 5032 Transport Workers Union of Australia v Lee (1998) 80 IR 106 University of New South Wales v National Tertiary Education Industry Union [2009] AIRCFB 571 WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene (2018) 264 FCR 536 Sappideen C, et al, Macken's Law of Employment (Lawbook Co., 8th ed, 2016)