Orica Australia Pty Ltd v Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation [2023] FCA 1515

Federal Court of Australia

Orica Australia Pty Ltd v Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation [2023] FCA 1515 File number: NSD 156 of 2021

Judgment of: PERRAM J

Date of judgment: 5 December 2023

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – whether employees 'eligible employees' under Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Administration Act 1992 (Cth) – consideration of definition of 'black coal mining industry' in cll 4.2 and 4.3 of the Black Coal Mining Industry Award 2010 – interpretation and application of cl 4.3(g) – whether Applicant 'engaged' in black coal mining industry – substantial character test

Legislation: Constitution ss 51(ii), 51(xx), 51(xxxv) Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Administration Act 1992 (Cth) s 4(1) National Emergency (Coal Strike) Act 1949 (Cth) Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) s 576C Black Coal Mining Industry Award 2010 cll 4.1, 4.1(b)(ii), 4.2(a), 4.2(b), 4.2(c), 4.2(d), 4.3(g)

Cases cited: Bis Industries Limited v Construction, Forestry, Maritim, Mining and Energy Union [2021] FCA 1374 Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation v Hitachi Construction Machinery (Australia) Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 68; 322 IR 129 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Limited [2005] AIRC 622 Harnischfeger of Australia Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2005) 152 IR 243 R v Drake-Brockman; Ex parte National Oil Pty Ltd (1943) 68 CLR 51 R v Hibble; Ex parte Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1921) 29 CLR 290 Re Request from the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations – Award Modernisation Statement [2008] AIRCFB 717; 177 IR 8 Re Request from the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations – Award Modernisation [2008] AIRCFB 1000; 177 IR 364