Keane v Woolworths Group Ltd [2023] FCA 379

Federal Court of Australia

Keane v Woolworths Group Ltd [2023] FCA 379 File number(s): SAD 113 of 2022

Judgment of: O'SULLIVAN J

Date of judgment: 2 May 2023

Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT LAW – appeal from decision of Commissioner of the Fair Work Commission – where Commissioner of the Fair Work Commission found that parties reached binding settlement – whether Commissioner demonstrated actual or apprehended bias – whether a fair-minded lay observer might reasonably apprehend that the judge might not bring an impartial mind to the resolution of the question – where no basis to support allegations of actual or apprehended bias found – application dismissed

Legislation: Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth), s 11(1) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), s 587 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth), r 31.01(1) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39B

Cases cited: Charisteas v Charisteas [2021] HCA 29; (2021) 273 CLR 289 Coal & Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2000] HCA 47; (2000) 203 CLR 194 Craig v South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63, (2000) 205 CLR 337 Hossain v Minister for Immigration [2018] HCA 34; (2018) 264 CLR 123 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA & Anor [2019] HCA 3; (2019) 264 CLR 421 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng [2001] HCA 17, (2001) 205 CLR 507 R v Australian Stevedoring Industry Board; Ex Parte Melbourne Stevedoring Co-Pty Ltd [1953] HCA 22, (1953) 88 CLR 100 R v Rich (Ruling No. 21) [2009] VSC 32 Sun Zhan Qui v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1997) 81 FCR 71