Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 1225

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union v Commissioner of Taxation [2022] FCA 1225 File number: NSD 1288 of 2020

Judgment of: JAGOT J

Date of judgment: 14 October 2022

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW — where union alleged circumvention and breach of enterprise agreement (EA) and misrepresentations as to workplace rights arising from work from home arrangements implemented during COVID-19 pandemic — where temporary work from home arrangements provided additional flexibility rather than overriding pre-existing arrangements — EA arrangements still available during pandemic — no misrepresentation of workplace rights nor contravention of EA — proceeding dismissed

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 12, 14, 50, 338(2)(b), 340(1), 341(1), 341(2)(k), 342(1), 345, 360, 361, 550, 793, 795 Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) reg 6.09, sch 6.3 Public Service Act 1999 (Cth) ss 7, 13(5), 20(1), 24(1A), 24(3) Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth) ss 4A(1)–(2), 8(1) Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Enterprise Agreement 2017

Cases cited: Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v McDermott (No 2) [2017] FCA 797; (2017) 252 FCR 393 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (The Adelaide Airport Case) [2021] FCA 951 Australian Education Union v Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology [2018] FCA 1985 Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association v Qantas Airways Limited [2022] FCAFC 50; (2022) 314 IR 231 Australian Red Cross Society v Queensland Nurses' Union of Employees [2019] FCAFC 215; (2019) 273 FCR 332 Campomar Sociedad, Limitada v Nike International Limited [2000] HCA 12; (2000) 202 CLR 45 Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia v Australian Postal Corporation [2017] FCA 1091 Community and Public Sector Union v Telstra Corporation Limited [2001] FCA 267; (2001) 107 FCR 93 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 25; (2015) 230 FCR 298 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd [2017] FCAFC 50 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v De Martin & Gasparini Pty Limited (No 2) [2017] FCA 1046; (2017) 69 AILR ¶102–860 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v State of Victoria [2013] FCA 445; (2013) 302 ALR 1 Hanley v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union [2000] FCA 1188; (2000) 100 FCR 530 Health Services Union v Ballarat Health Services [2011] FCA 1256 James Cook University v Ridd [2020] FCAFC 123; (2020) 278 FCR 566 Klein v Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board [2012] FCA 1402; (2012) 208 FCR 178 National Tertiary Education Union v La Trobe University [2015] FCAFC 142; (2015) 254 IR 238 OneKey Workforce Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2018] FCAFC 77; (2018) 262 FCR 527 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd [1982] HCA 44; (1982) 149 CLR 191 Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Pty Ltd v Maritime Union of Australia (No 3) [1998] HCA 30; (1998) 195 CLR 1 Qantas Airways Ltd v Transport Workers' Union of Australia [2022] FCAFC 71; (2022) 402 ALR 1 R v Darling Island Stevedoring & Lighterage Co Ltd; Ex parte Halliday; Ex parte Sullivan [1938] HCA 44; (1938) 60 CLR 601 R v Khazaal [2012] HCA 26; (2012) 246 CLR 601 Retail and Fast Food Workers Union Incorporated v Tantex Holdings Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1258; (2020) 299 IR 56 Squires v Flight Stewards Association of Australia [1982] FCA 171; (1982) 2 IR 155 Taco Company of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd [1982] FCA 170; (1982) 42 ALR 177 Walsh v Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (No 2) [2014] FCA 456; (2014) 243 IR 468 WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene [2018] FCAFC 131; (2018) 264 FCR 536 Yorke v Lucas [1985] HCA 65; (1985) 158 CLR 661