Summers v Qantas Airways Limited [2021] FCA 391

Federal Court of Australia

Summers v Qantas Airways Limited [2021] FCA 391 File number: NSD 301 of 2021

Judgment of: KATZMANN J

Date of judgment: 21 April 2021

Catchwords: HUMAN RIGHTS — age discrimination — application for interim injunction under s 46PP of Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) to restrain respondent from terminating applicant's employment until complaint withdrawn or terminated by President — where respondent proposed terminating applicant's employment at age 65, whether prima facie case of unlawful discrimination under s 18 of Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) — whether balance of convenience favours relief — whether relief should be refused on discretionary grounds

Legislation: Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) ss 14, 15, 16, 18 Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ss 3, 46P, 46PD, 46PF, 46PG, 46PH, 46PO, 46PP

Cases cited: Australian Broadcasting Commission v Lenah Game Meats Pty Limited (2001) 208 CLR 199 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618 Carlsson v Ford [2019] FCA 584; 371 ALR 382 Commonwealth of Australia v Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission (1996) 70 FCR 76 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Electrix Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1879 Daccache v BOC Limited [2020] FCA 485 Qantas Airways Ltd v Christie (1998) 193 CLR 280 Samsung Electronics v Apple (2011) 217 FCR 238 Shizas v Commissioner of Police [2017] FCA 61; 268 IR 71 Spencer v Commonwealth (2010) 241 CLR 118 Wilson v Britten-Jones [2019] FCA 747 Watts v Australian Postal Corporation (2014) 222 FCR 220 X v The Commonwealth (1990) 200 CLR 177