Shergill v Singh (No 2) [2024] FCA 261

Federal Court of Australia

Shergill v Singh (No 2) [2024] FCA 261 File number(s): NSD 991 of 2021

Judgment of: RAPER J

Date of judgment: 20 March 2024

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – determination of civil penalties – for contraventions of ss 323, 536, 44(1) and 45 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) by Mr Singh, the former Indian High Commissioner – primary purpose of deterrence in civil penalties determination – where the contravener did not participate in any of the Court's processes – whether the conduct was deliberate – maximum penalty awarded

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 44(1), 45, 323, 536, 539(2), 546, 546(1), 546(2)(a), 556, 557, 557(1) Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) r 3.46

Cases cited: Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Automatic, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union (The Australian Paper Case) (No 2) [2017] FCA 367 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Pattinson [2022] HCA 13; 274 CLR 450 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] FCAFC 181; 340 ALR 25 Basfar v Wong [2022] UKSC 20; [2023] AC 33 Doe v Howard [2015] VSC 75 Fair Work Building Inspectorate v Foxville Projects Group Pty Ltd [2015] FCA 492 Fair Work Ombudsman v NSH North Pty Ltd trading as New Shanghai Charlestown [2017] FCA 1301; 275 IR 148 Fair Work Ombudsman v Orwill Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] FMCA 730 Fair Work Ombudsman v Taj Palace Tandoori Indian Restaurant Pty Ltd & Anor [2012] FMCA 258 Flight Centre Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (No 2) [2018] FCAFC 53; 260 FCR 68 Mahmood v Chohan [2021] FCA 973 Reyes v Al-Malki [2017] UKSC 61; [2018] 1 All ER 629 Shergill v Singh [2023] FCA 1346 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1990] FCA 521; [1991] ATPR ¶41-076 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2021] FCAFC 49