United Firefighters' Union of Australia v Honourable Jaclyn Symes (No 2) [2024] FCA 510

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

United Firefighters' Union of Australia v Honourable Jaclyn Symes (No 2) [2024] FCA 510 File number: VID 657 of 2022

Judgment of: SNADEN J

Date of judgment: 17 May 2024

Catchwords: INDUSTRIAL LAW – applicant an industrial association – alleged that minister acted ultra vires the Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958 (Vic) by sending instruction and direction to a statutory agency, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) – where applicant and FRV were parties to dispute before Fair Work Commission – alleged breach of s 343 of Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) – whether applicant has standing to seek relief – whether Minister authorised to send letter and direction – where Minister was authorised to send direction, but not letter – appropriateness of declaratory relief – whether sending of letter amounted to coercion contrary to s 343 of FW Act – whether sending of letter was "unlawful, unconscionable or illegitimate" – application dismissed

Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 341, 343, 539, 540, 570, 793 Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 32 Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958 (Vic) ss 8, 25A

Cases cited: Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Australian Federation of Air Pilots (Airline Pilots/Pilots' Strike case) [1991] 1 VR 637 Attorney-General (NSW) v World Best Holdings Ltd (2005) 63 NSWLR 557 Auimatagi v Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (2018) 267 FCR 268 Australia and New Zealand Banking Group v Karam (2005) 64 NSWLR 149 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (2017) 267 IR 130 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union (2017) 267 IR 130 Beaudesert Shire Council v Smith (1966) 120 CLR 145 Brekkes Ltd v Cattel [1972] Ch 105 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Milin Builders Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 1070 Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v OE Solutions Pty Ltd (No 8) [2022] FCA 1404 Dollar Sweets Pty Ltd v Federated Confectioners Association of Australia [1986] VR 383 Dunlop v Woollahra Municipal Council [1981] 1 NSWLR 76 Edwards v Santos Ltd (2011) 242 CLR 421 Electricity Generation Corporation t/as Verve Energy v Woodside Energy Ltd [2013] WASCA 36 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2017) 263 CLR 551 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v The Australian Workers' Union (2016) 245 FCR 39 Hobart International Airport Pty Ltd v Clarence City Council (2022) 399 ALR 214 Fatimi v Bryant [2002] NSWSC 750 Finance Sector Union of Australia v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2000) 106 FCR 16 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 Hardie Finance Corp Pty Ltd v Ahern (No 3) [2010] WASC 403 Hillier v Martin (No 14) [2022] FCA 984 Latham v Singleton [1981] 2 NSWLR 843 Merkur Island Shipping Corp v Laughton [1983] 2 AC 570 Messenger v Commonwealth of Australia (Represented by the Department of Finance) [2022] FCA 677 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwaj (2002) 209 CLR 597 Mogul Steamship Co Ltd v McGregor Gow & Co [1892] AC 25 Northern Territory v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307 OBG Ltd v Allan [2008] 1 AC 1 Pathmanathan v St John of God Healthcare Inc (No 3) [2023] FCA 628 Plaintiff S10/2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2012) 246 CLR 636 Qantas Airways Ltd v Transport Workers' Union of Australia (2011) 280 ALR 503 Rookes v Barnard [1964] AC 1129 Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v British Bank for Foreign Trade [1921] 2 AC 438 Sanders v Snell (1998) 196 CLR 329 Sid Ross Agency Pty Ltd v Actors & Announcers Equity Association of Australia [1971] 1 NSWLR 760 Sid Ross Agency Pty Ltd v Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia [1971] 1 NSWLR 760 Truth About Motorways Pty Ltd v Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management Limited (2000) 200 CLR 591 Universe Tankships Inc of Monrovia v International Transport Workers' Federation [1983] 1 AC 366