Lamont v University of Queensland (No 2) [2020] FCA 720

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Lamont v University of Queensland (No 2) [2020] FCA 720 File number: QUD 263 of 2018

Judge: RANGIAH J

Date of judgment: 28 May 2020

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – employment – whether adverse action taken by respondents within s 342(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FWA) – whether adverse action taken against applicant because applicant exercised workplace rights in contravention of s 340(1) of the FWA – whether University liable under s 793 of the FWA for adverse action engaged in by officials – allegations of contraventions of s 340(1) of the FWA upheld in part – compensation awarded under s 545 of the FWA INDUSTRIAL LAW – employment – whether University breached enterprise agreements CONTRACT – whether University breached implied terms of contract of employment

Legislation: Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 140 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 50, 340, 340(1), 341, 342(1), 360, 361, 361(1), 545, 550, 570 and 793 Industrial Relations Act 1988 (Cth) s 170EE Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) s 298K(1) Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 (Qld) Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 (NSW) s 95 University of Queensland Act 1998 (Qld) ss 2(b), 4(2)(a), 9(1) and 27(1) Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994 (Qld) ss 11(1) and 11(2) Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)

Cases cited: Aitken v Construction, Mining, Energy, Timberyards, Sawmills and Woodworkers Union of Australia — Western Australian Branch (1995) 63 IR 1 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall (2018) 261 FCR 347 Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association v International Aviation Service Assistance Pty Ltd (2011) 193 FCR 526 Barker v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2012) 229 IR 249; [2012] FCA 942 Bauer Consumer Media Ltd v Evergreen Television Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 71 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay (2012) 248 CLR 500 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Burazin v Blacktown City Guardian Pty Ltd (1996) 142 ALR 144 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Childs v Metropolitan Transport Trust (1981) IAS Current Review 946 Cigarette & Gift Warehouse Pty Ltd v Whelan (2019) 285 IR 290; [2019] FCAFC 16 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Barker (2014) 253 CLR 169 Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Finance Sector Union of Australia (2007) 157 FCR 329 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2007) 162 FCR 466 Community and Public Sector Union v Telstra Corporation Ltd (2001) 107 FCR 93 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Anglo Coal (Dawson Services) Pty Ltd (2015) 238 FCR 273 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (2014) 253 CLR 243 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd [2017] FCAFC 50 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Clermont Coal Pty Ltd (2015) 253 IR 166; [2015] FCA 1014 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd (1999) 140 IR 131; [1999] FCA 1531 Dafallah v Fair Work Commission (2014) 225 FCR 559 Ermel v Duluxgroup (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] FCA 17 Fair Work Ombudsman v Eastern Colour Pty Ltd (2011) 209 IR 263; [2011] FCA 803 Fair Work Ombudsman v South Jin Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 1456 Ferrcom Pty Ltd v Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd (1993) 176 CLR 332 Finance Sector Union of Australia v Australian & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (2002) 120 FCR 107 Foggo v O'Sullivan Partners (Advisory) Pty Ltd (2011) 206 IR 87; [2011] NSWSC 501 Gibbs v The Palmerston Town Council [1987] FCA 732 Goldman Sachs JBWere Services Pty Ltd v Nikolich (2007) 163 FCR 62 Gray v Sirtex Medical Ltd (2011) 276 ALR 267; [2011] FCAFC 40 Hammond v Department of Health (1983) 6 IR 371 Health Services Union of Australia v Tasmania (1996) 73 IR 140 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Jones v Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre Ltd (No 2) (2010) 186 FCR 22 Major v State of South Australia (1999) 140 IR 29; [1999] FCA 1684 Maritime Union of Australia v Fair Work Ombudsman (2016) 247 FCR 154 National Tertiary Education Union v Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (2013) 234 IR 139; (2013) FCA 451 Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Pty Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia (1998) 195 CLR 1 PIA Mortgage Services Pty Ltd v King [2020] FCAFC 15 Regulski v State of Victoria [2015] FCA 206 Riverwood International Pty Ltd v McCormick (2000) 177 ALR 193; [2000] FCA 889 Romero v Farstad Shipping (Indian Pacific) Pty Ltd (2014) 231 FCR 403 Shea v TRUenergy Services Pty Ltd (No 6) (2014) 314 ALR 346; [2014] FCA 271 Squires v Flight Stewards Association of Australia (1982) 2 IR 155 State of Victoria (Office of Public Prosecutions) v Grant (2014) 246 IR 441; [2014] FCAFC 184 Stefanovski v Digital Central Australia (Assets) Pty Ltd (2018) 368 ALR 607; [2018] FCAFC 31 Tame v New South Wales (2002) 211 CLR 317 Tattsbet Ltd v Morrow (2015) 233 FCR 46 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 United Firefighters' Union of Australia v Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (2003) 198 ALR 466; [2003] FCA 480 Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661 Yousif v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2010) 193 IR 212; [2010] FCAFC 8