Patrick Stevedores Holdings Pty Limited v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (No 4) [2021] FCA 1481

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Patrick Stevedores Holdings Pty Limited v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (No 4) [2021] FCA 1481 File numbers: NSD 596 of 2017 NSD 1594 of 2017

Judgment of: LEE J

Date of judgment: 29 November 2021

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – civil penalties – compensation for loss and damage to "remedy the effect" of conduct contravening ss 417 and 421 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) – principles to be applied – productivity loss – whether pecuniary penalties should be imposed – principles in relation to the imposition of pecuniary penalties – seriousness of contraventions – whether contraventions occurred as a single course of conduct – relevance of individual factors including contrition and remorse, cooperation, a culture of compliance and capacity to pay

Legislation: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) ss 18A, 33(2A) Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 9, 1325, 1317HA Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 136, 191 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 348, 355, 417, 421, 513, 545, 546, 557 Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) s 494(5)(b)

Cases cited: Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2018] HCA 3; (2018) 262 CLR 157 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (The Nine Brisbane Sites Appeal) [2019] FCAFC 59 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2020] FCA 549 Australian Ophthalmic Supplies v McAlary Smith [2008] FCAFC 8; (2008) 165 FCR 560 BHP Group Limited v Impiombato [2021] FCAFC 93; (2021) 151 ASCR 634 Carey-Hazell v Getz Bros & Co (Aust) Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 853; (2004) ATPR 42-014 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union - The Maritime Union of Australia Division [2019] FWC 7850 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Australian Building and Construction Commission [2020] FWCFB 1099 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill [2010] FCAFC 39; (2010) 269 ALR 1 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd (No 2) [1999] FCA 1714; (1999) 94 IR 231 Dafallah v Fair Work Commission [2014] FCA 328; (2014) 225 FCR 559 Director of Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2015] FCA 1213 DP World Sydney Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia (No 2) [2014] FCA 596; (2014) 318 ALR 22 DP World Sydney Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia (No 2) [2014] FCA 596; (2014) 318 ALR 22 Fair Work Ombudsman v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (the Hutchison Ports Appeal) [2019] FCAFC 69 Fair Work Ombudsman v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2018] FCA 934; (2018) 280 IR 173 Fair Work Ombudsman v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (Hutchison Ports Appeal) [2019] FCAFC 69 Henville v Walker [2001] HCA 52; (2001) 206 CLR 459 I & L Securities Pty Limited v HTW Valuers [2002] HCA 41; (2002) 210 CLR 109 NW Frozen Foods v ACCC (1996) 71 FCR 285 Patrick Stevedores Holdings Pty Limited v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (No 3) [2021] FCA 348; (2021) 304 IR 280 Patrick Stevedores Holdings Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2019] FCA 451; (2019) 286 IR 52 Patrick Terminals Enterprise Agreement 2016: Patrick Stevedores Holdings Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union [2019] FCA 1647 Pattinson v Australian Building and Construction Commissioner [2020] FCAFC 177; (2020) 282 FCR 580 Qantas Airways Ltd v Transport Workers' Union of Australia (No 2) [2011] FCA 816; (2011) 211 IR 119 Retail and Fast Food Workers Union Inc v Tantex Holdings Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1258; (2020) 299 IR 56 Schanka v Employment National (Administration) Pty Limited (No 2) [2001] FCA 1623; (2001) 114 FCR 379 Stuart-Mahoney v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2008] FCA 1426; (2008) 177 IR 61