[2011] FMCA 730
General information, not legal advice.
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
2011-09-28
Original judgment source is linked above.
with respect to three employees - Messrs Lang and Wang and Ms Zhao.[7]
General considerations relevant to assessment of penalty
Nature of the contraventions and the extent, circumstances and consequences of the conduct
As part of the Arrangement, the respondents effectively took advantage of a government migration programme to obtain workers without fulfilling the responsibilities of employers under that migration scheme or under Australian workplace law; 2. although Orwill's failure to keep records or issue payslips (and the other respondents' involvement in that failure) did not immediately impact upon any person in terms of loss or damage, such conduct has the effect of undermining the ability of the applicant to effectively investigate complaints of more serious conduct and enforce compliance with minimum standards and industrial instruments; and 3. the respondents' conduct has stifled the applicant's ability to conduct a proper investigation of complaints made against the Jacaranda Deli business. Such conduct undermines the effectiveness of the principal objects of the workplace relations system.
but that they did not realise, or make any enquiry into, the nature of employment record keeping requirements. Even if such a proposition were believable of itself, it is here inconsistent with the Agreed Facts and Submissions as set out above, and is therefore not believable. It ill behoves the respondents, having entered into the Agreed Facts and Submissions to have then made a submission contrary to its terms, and is arguably evidence that any contrition or co-operation with the authorities is questionable.
Whether the contraventions arose from a single course of conduct
Mr Siaw has told the applicant at interview that he has a masters degree in management from the University of Cambridge and a bachelors degree in business;[48] and
The respondents' contrition and co-operation with authorities
I certify that the preceding 52Error! Style not defined.!Syntax Error, !Error! Style not defined.Error! Style not defined.!Syntax Error, !fifty-twofifty-two (52) paragraphs are a true copy of the reasons for judgment of Lucev FM
[8] Attorney-General v Tishy (1982) 30 SASR 84 at 92 per Wells J; Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2011] FCA 810 at para.25 per Gilmour J ("ABCC").
[9] Ponzio v B & P Caelli Constructions Pty Ltd and Ors [2007] FCAFC 65; (2007) 158 FCR 543 at 559-560 per Lander J; [2007] FCAFC 65 at para.93 per Lander J ("Caelli Constructions"); ABCC at para.26 per Gilmour J.
[10] Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd v McAlary-Smith [2008] FCAFC 8; (2008) 165 FCR 560 at 567-568 per Gray J and 572 per Graham J; [2008] FCAFC 8 at para.27 per Gray J and para.55 per Graham J ("Australian Ophthalmic Supplies"); Wong v The Queen [2001] HCA 64; (2001) 207 CLR 584 at 611-612 per Gaudron, Gummow and Hayne JJ; [2001] HCA 64 at paras.74-76 per Gaudron, Gummow and Hayne JJ; ABCC at para.27 per Gilmour J.
[11] Australian Ophthalmic Supplies FCR at 572 per Graham J; FCAFC at para.54 per Graham J; ABCC at para.28 per Gilmour J.
[12] ABCC at para.30 per Gilmour J; Australian Ophthalmic Supplies FCR at 579-580 per Buchanan J; FCAFC at paras.89-91 per Buchanan J.
[13] NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [1996] FCA 1134; (1996) 71 FCR 285 at 295 per Burchett and Kiefel JJ; ABCC at para.31 per Gilmour J.
[14] Examples include: Mason v Harrington Corporation Pty Ltd [2007] FMCA 7; Olsen v Sterling Crown Pty Ltd (2008) 177 IR 337; [2008] FMCA 1392 ("Sterling Crown); CFMEU v Austral Bricks (Qld) Pty Ltd (2009) 178 IR 470; [2009] FMCA 143; Workplace Ombudsman v Golden Maple Pty Ltd [2009] FMCA 664; (2009) 186 IR 211; (2009] FMCA 664 ("Golden Maple"); Fair Work Ombudsman v Industrial Roadpavers (WA) Pty Ltd [2010] FMCA 204 ("Industrial Roadpavers").
[15] Affidavit of Madeleine Susan Jones, affirmed 22 October 2010, Annexure F, pp298-301 ("Jones Affidavit").
[16] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, pp275-297.
[17] See bank records at Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, p304.
[18] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, p302.
[19] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, pp307-312.
[20] Applicant's Submission, paragraph 25(c).
[21] Applicant's Submission, paragraph 25(d).
[22] Applicant's Submission, paragraph 26.
[23] Citing Fleming v Restaurant Services Group and Ors [2008] FMCA 455.
[24] Agreed Facts and Submissions, para.8.
[25] Agreed Facts and Submissions, para.45(c).
[26] Agreed Facts and Submissions, para.46(g).
[27] Agreed Facts and Submissions, para.46(b).
[28] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, page 293.
[29] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, page 296.
[30] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, page 303.
[31] Jones Affidavit, Annexure F, page 304.
[32] Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing v Pagasa Australia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1545 at para.56 per Flick J ("Pagasa").
[35] Sterling Crown IR at 350-351 per Lucev FM; FMCA at paras.51-52 per Lucev FM.
[38] Citing Industrial Roadpavers IR at 446 per Lucev FM; FMCA at para.27 per Lucev FM.
[40] Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ("FW Act"), ss.35 and 536 (equivalent civil penalty provisions), ss.539 and 546 (maximum penalties).
[41] Citing Caelli Constructions FCR at 559-560 per Lander J; FCAFC at para.94 per Lander J.
[42] Citing Kelly v Fitzpatrick (2007) 166 IR 14 at 21 per Tracey J; [2007] FCA 1080 at para.28 per Tracey J.
[43] Leighton Contractors & Anor v CFMEU & Ors [2006] WASC 317; (2006) 164 IR 375 at 391 per Le Miere J; [2006] WASC 317 at para.74 per Le Miere J.
[44] Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v IPM Operation and Maintenance Loy Yang Pty Ltd (No 21) [2007] FCA 11 at para.66 per Young J.
[45] Finance Sector Union of Australia v Commonwealth Bank of Australia [2005] FCA 1847; (2005) 224 ALR 467 at 487 per Merkel J; [2005] FCA 1847 at para.72 per Merkel J; Commonwealth Bank of Australia & Anor v Finance Sector Union of Australia [2007] FCAFC 18; (2007) 157 FCR 329 at 364 per Branson J; [2007] FCAFC 18 at paras.191-192 per Branson J; ABCC at paras.32-33 per Gilmour J.
[47] See ASIC register extract for Orwill at Annexure E to the Chapple Affidavit.
[48] Jones affidavit, Annexure G, p336.
[49] Citing Industrial Roadpavers IR at 451 per Lucev FM; FMCA at para.59 per Lucev FM and Klousia v TKM Investments Pty Ltd [2009] FMCA 208.
[50] Citing Industrial Road Pavers IR at 448 per Lucev FM; FMCA at para.41 per Lucev FM.
[51] Affidavit of Anfernee Hok Ming Lai, sworn 4 February 2011 ("Lai's Affidavit"), Annexure AHML 4. Mr Lai swore a supplementary affidavit annexing two pages omitted from annexures to Lai's Affidavit and a profit and loss statement: Supplementary Affidavit of Anfernee Hok Ming Lai, sworn 17 February 2011 ("Lai's Supplementary Affidavit")
[52] See exhibits 1 and 2 being the relevant ASIC extracts for Orwill and Total Trades Personnel respectively.
[53] Lai's Supplementary Affidavit, Annexure AHML 6.
[61] Lai's Supplementary Affidavit, Annexure AHML 5.
Fair Work Ombudsman
Orwill Pty Ltd & Ors [2011] FMCA 730
Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2011] FCA 810
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v IPM Operation and Maintenance Loy Yang Pty Ltd (No 21) [2007] FCA 11
Australian Ophthalmic Supplies v McAlary-Smith (2008) 165 FCR 560; [2008] FCAFC 8
CFMEU v Austral Bricks (Qld) Pty Ltd (2009) 178 IR 470; [2009] FMCA 143
Commonwealth Bank of Australia & Anor v Finance Sector Union of Australia (2007) 157 FCR 329; [2007] FCAFC 18
Fair Work Ombudsman v Industrial Road Pavers (WA) Pty Ltd & Anor (2010) 194 IR 436; [2010] FMCA 204
Finance Sector Union of Australia v Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2005) 224 ALR 467; [2005] FCA 1847
Fleming v Restaurant Services Group and Ors [2008] FMCA 455
Kelly v Fitzpatrick (2007) 166 1R 14; [2007] FCA 1080
Klousia v TKM Investments Pty Ltd [2009] FMCA 208
Leighton Contractors & Anor v CFMEU & Ors (2006) 164 IR 375; [2006] WASC 317
Mason v Harrington Corporation Pty Ltd [2007] FMCA 7
NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [1996] FCA 1134; (1996) 71 FCR 285
Olsen v Sterling Crown Pty Ltd (2008) 177 IR 337; [2008] FMCA 1392
Ponzio v B&P Caelli Constructions Pty Ltd (2007) 158 FCR 543; [2007] FCAFC 65
Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing v Pagasa Australia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1545
Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64
Workplace Ombudsman v Golden Maple Pty Ltd (2009) 186 IR 211; [2009] FMCA 664
(1982) 30 SASR 84
(2008) 165 FCR 560
(2009) 178 IR 470
(2007) 157 FCR 329
(2010) 194 IR 436
(2005) 224 ALR 467
(2006) 164 IR 375
(1996) 71 FCR 285
(2008) 177 IR 337
(2007) 158 FCR 543
(2001) 207 CLR 584
(2009) 186 IR 211
(2007) 166 IR 14