Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of New South Wales v Secretary of the Treasury [2014] NSWIRComm 23

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of New South Wales v Secretary of the Treasury [2014] NSWIRComm 23 Hearing dates: 22 November 2013; Written submissions 29 November and 6 December 2013 Decision date: 14 May 2014 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Walton J, President Decision: I propose to grant the applicant's amended application for declaratory relief, subject to one issue concerning the form of the appropriate order. Whilst the terms of cl 65.1 are identical in the Award and the reviewed Award, it may be that any order made to reflect this judgment should properly refer to the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009. I shall give the opportunity for further submissions by either party, in this respect, which should be filed and served within 14 days of this judgment. Catchwords: AWARD - application for declaratory relief - public sector employment - consultation provisions of a conditions of employment award - agreed consultation arrangements reached prior to making of award - further consultation arrangements promulgated - issue whether consultative provisions of award obliged compliance with agreed consultative arrangements rather than arrangements promulgated later in time by respondent - relevant statutory provisions - s 154 - principles for the interpretation of awards - principles governing the declaratory jurisdiction under s 154 - rights - discretion - utility - whether "document" in subject clause to be read as generic or ambulatory - whether clause requires adherence to consultation with agreed arrangements - if so whether clause of award invalid - whether award clause and agreed consultative arrangements aspirational or directory in nature - whether legal relations created - whether clause legally having effect enforceable - found intention that there be effective means of consultation in form of agreed arrangements - legal obligation to comply with agreed arrangement vis á vis award clause - enforceability - discretionary considerations - utility - other factors such as delay - declaration to be made - further submissions as to form of declaration Legislation Cited: Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth): ss 46; 15AA; 15AB Equity Act 1901: s 10 Government Sector Employment Act 2013: ss 49; 50 Industrial Relations Act 1996: ss 3; 3(g); 3(h); 6(1); 6(2); 6(2)(g); 10; 11; 12; 17; 19; 19(1); 19(2); 19(3); 19(6); 154; 175; 179; 357 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW): ss 3(1); 5(2); 5(6); 9(2), 31; 32; 33 Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002: ss 4A, 27, 38, 107 Trade Practices Act 1975 (Cth): s 80(4) Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) Cases Cited: ACCC v Chen [2003] FCA 897; (2003) 132 FCR 309; (2003) 201 ALR 40 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission [1992] HCA 10; (1992) 175 CLR 564 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue [2009] HCA 41; (2009) 239 CLR 27 Amcor Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2005] HCA 10; (2005) 222 CLR 241 Attorney-General v Scott (1904) 20 TLR 630 Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (WA Branch) v Woolworths Ltd [2007] FCAFC 201; (2007) 164 FCR 420; (2007) 244 ALR 658; (2007) 170 IR 403 Australian Communication Exchange Ltd v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2003] HCA 55; (2003) 201 ALR 271 Australian Education Union v Department of Education and Children's Services [2012] HCA 3; (2012) 248 CLR 1; (2012) 285 ALR 27 Australian Workers Union (NSW) v Pioneer Concrete (NSW) Pty Ltd (1991) 38 IR 365 Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher [2011] UKSC 41; [2011] 4 All ER 745; [2011] I.C.R. 1157 Board of Bendigo Regional Institute of Technical and Further Education v Barclay [2012] HCA 32; (2012) 248 CLR 500 Bryce v Apperley (1998) 82 IR 448 Bull v Attorney-General (NSW) (1913) 17 CLR 370 Certain Lloyd's Underwriters Subscribing to Contract No IH00AAQS v Thelander [2012] HCA 56; (2012) 248 CLR 378; (2012) 293 ALR 412 City of Wanneroo v Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union [2006] FCA 813; (2006) 153 IR 426 City of Wanneroo v Holmes [1989] FCA 369; (1989) 30 IR 362 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) [1982] HCA 24; (1982) 149 CLR 337 Comdox (No 272) Pty Ltd (t/a Ronald Stead Golf) v Dawson (1993) 49 IR 458 Commission of Taxation v Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd [2012] HCA 55; (2012) 293 ALR 257 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (NSW Branch) v Delta Electricity [2003] NSWIRComm 135; (2003) 146 IR 360 Director of Public Employment (by her Agent the Commissioner of New South Wales Fire Brigades) v New South Wales Fire Brigades Employees' Union(2008) 180 IR 170; [2008] NSWIRComm 158 Endeavour Coal Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (New South Wales Branch) [2007] NSWIRComm 70; (2007) 161 IR 96 Ford v SAS Trustee Corporation [2000] NSWIRComm 92; (2000) 98 IR 444 Forster v Jododex Aust. Pty Ltd [1972] HCA 61; (1972) 127 CLR 421 Gardner v Dairy Industry Authority of New South Wales (1978) 18 ALR 55 George A Bond & Co Ltd (in liq) v McKenzie [1929] AR (NSW) 498 Grunwick Processing Laboratories Ltd v Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service [1978] AC 655 Formosa v Department of Social Security (1988) 46 FCR 117 Health and Research Employees Association of New South Wales, Re Dispute with Northern Rivers Health Service re Payment to Part-time Employees [2004] NSWIRComm 10; (2004) 135 IR 132 Health and Research Employees' Association of New South Wales v Baptist Community Services NSW and ACT [2002] NSWIRComm 32; (2002) 122 IR 178 Hollingsworth v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Service [2005] NSWIRComm 279; (2005) 146 IR 285 Humane Society International Inc v Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd [2006] FCAFC 116; (2006) 154 FCR 425 In Re Textile Workers Union [1913] AR 179 Johnco Nominees Pty Ltd v Albury-Wodonga (New South Wales) Corporation [1977] 1 NSWLR 43 Kingmill Australia Pty Ltd (t/a Thrifty Car Rental) v Federated Clerks Union of Australia (NSW Branch) [2001] NSWIRComm 141; (2001) 106 IR 217 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Kucks v CSR Ltd (1996) 66 IR 182 Lewis v Green [1905] 2 Ch 340 Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd (1996) 91 LGERA 31 Odhams Press Ltd v London and Provincial Sporting News Agency (1929) Ltd [1936] Ch 357; [1936] 1 All ER 217 Perisher Blue Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (1999) 91 IR 274 at 283 PMT Partners Pty Ltd (In Liq) v Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (1995) [1995] HCA 36; 184 CLR 301 Prenn v Simmonds [1971] 3 AII ER 237; [1971] 1 WLR 1381 Principles for Review of Award [1998] NSWIRComm 661; (1998) 85 IR 38 Public Employment Industrial Relations Authority v Health and Research Employees' Association of New South Wales (1994) 54 IR 162 Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Amalgamated Unions of New South Wales v Department of Education and Communities [2013] NSWIRComm 32 Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Associated Amalgamated Union of New South Wales [2014] NSWCA 116 Purvis v New South Wales [2003] HCA 62; (2003) 217 CLR 92 Rail Corporation New South Wales v Brown [2012] NSWCA 296; (2012) 82 NSWLR 318; (2012) 219 IR 67 Re Broken Hill Commerce and Industry Consent Award (No 2) [2002] NSWIRComm 309; (2002) 120 IR 429 Re Corrections Health Services Nurses' (State) Award (1999) 90 IR 235 at 245 Re Dispute between Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd and the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers' Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch, Re Tank Tops [1961] AR (NSW) 312 Re Hospital Employees Administrative and Clerical (State) Award (1982) 2 IR 123 Re Maritime Services Board (Cargo Handling Operators) Award [1960] AR (NSW) 434 Re Poultry Industry Preparation (State) Award and other awards [2003] NSWIRComm 129 Re State Rail Authority Firefighters Award 2001 [2002] NSWIRComm 159; (2002) 122 IR 13 Re University of New South Wales (Conditions of Employment) Award [1960] AR 631 Reardon Smith Line Ltd v Hansen-Tangen [1976] 1 WLR989; [1976] 3 All ER 570 Ridge v Lyon [1910] AR (NSW) 427 Russian Commercial and Industrial Bank v British Bank for Foreign Trade Ltd [1921] 2 AC 438 San Remo (Southland) Pty Ltd v Farrell (1987) 22 IR 291 Sanky v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR Short v F W Hercus Pty Ltd (1993) 40 FCR 511 Tempo Services Ltd v Strezouski [2005] NSWIRComm 329; (2005) 146 IR 411 Transport Workers' Union (NSW Branch) v Walker Civil Engineering (1999) 91 IR 153 Zoological Parks Board (NSW) v Australian Workers Union [2004] NSWIRComm 85; (2004) 135 IR 56 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of New South Wales (Applicant) Secretary of the Treasury (Respondent) Representation: M Gibian of counsel (Applicant) S B Benson of counsel (Respondent) W G McNally Jones Staff (Applicant) Crown Solicitor's Office (Respondent) File Number(s): IRC 751 of 2013