Fair Work Act 2009

s.437 - Application for a protected action ballot order

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Proposed protected action ballot of employees of Copper Refineries Pty Ltd - non-AEC ballot electronic voting

[1] This is an application by the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU or Applicant) made under s.437 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act) for a protected action ballot order in relation to certain employees of Copper Refineries Pty Ltd (Copper Refineries or Employer).

• [2] I note that the CFMEU[1], the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (CEPU)[2], and the Australian Workers' Union (AWU)[3] have each previously made separate applications for a protected action ballot order in relation to the same proposed agreement.

[3] On 17 March 2026, the Commission was advised that the Employer, in effect, did not object to the Application.

[4] In the circumstances, I have decided to determine the matter on the papers without holding a hearing.

[5] On the basis of the material before me, including the declaration of Paul Dunbar, Industrial Relations Coordinator, setting out the steps taken by the CFMEU in bargaining with the Employer and that it has been, and is, genuinely trying to reach agreement with Copper Refineries, I am satisfied that there is a notification time in relation to the proposed agreement and that all of the requirements in s.443(1) of the Act have been met.

[6] The ballot is to be conducted by TrueVote Pty Ltd (True Vote). True Vote has been approved as an eligible protected action ballot agent under s.468A of the Act and is authorised to conduct the ballot.

• [7] For the purposes of s.443(3)(c) of the Act, the Commission has determined that the date by which voting is to close is 31 March 2026.[4] This also establishes the ballot period for the purpose of s.448A(2) of the Act.

[8] An Order has been separately issued in PR797712.

[9] This matter will be assigned to another Member of the Commission to conduct the s.448A compulsory conciliation conference. That Member will issue an Order requiring the attendance of all bargaining representatives in the proposed enterprise agreement at the conference. It is likely that Directions will also be issued to ensure that the parties attend the conference ready to conduct meaningful negotiations.

[4] This is, in effect, 10 working days from the making of the Order and was the period sought in the application.

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