© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
[2011] FCA 808
Federal Court of Australia
2011-07-20
Mr J, Marshall J, Marshall ACJ
Original judgment source is linked above.
12 and 15 December 2008 - 52 Flemington Road, Parkville
12 and 13 February 2009 - 52 Flemington Road, Parkville
12 and 13 February 2009 - 637 Chapel Road, South Yarra
12 and 13 February 2009 - 717 Bourke Street, Docklands
18 February to 2 March - 52 Flemington Road, Parkville
Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules. The text of entered orders can be located using Federal Law Search on the Court's website.
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY FAIR WORK DIVISION VID 369 of 2010
JUDGE: MARSHALL ACJ DATE OF ORDER: 27 June 2011 WHERE MADE: MELBOURNE
15 and 16 October 2008 - 52 Flemington Road, Parkville
28 and 29 November 2008 - 52 Flemington Road, Parkville
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY FAIR WORK DIVISION VID 307 of 2010
AND: CONSTRUCTION FORESTRY MINING AND ENERGY UNION
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA VICTORIA DISTRICT REGISTRY FAIR WORK DIVISION VID 369 of 2010
JUDGE: MARSHALL J DATE: 20 JULY 2011 PLACE: MELBOURNE
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 On 27 June 2011, I made the Orders set out in the orders pages of this judgment. What follows are my reasons for doing so.
background 2 The proceeding brought by Murray Gregor in VID 307/2010 ('the Gregor proceeding') and the proceeding brought by Michelle Cozadinos in VID 369/2010 ('the Cozadinos proceeding') relate to the same interests and events. It is convenient to deal with the two matters together. 3 Murray Gregor and Michelle Cozadinos ("the applicants") seek orders imposing pecuniary penalties on the first respondent, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union ('CFMEU') and the other respondents, who are all CFMEU employees, organisers and/or members, for contraventions of ss 38 and 43 of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 (Cth) ('the BCII Act'). The applicants are Australian Building and Construction Inspectors appointed under s 57 of the BCII Act, and they are therefore entitled to bring proceedings pursuant to s 49(6) of the BCII Act. 4 On 25 May 2011, the applicants filed a joint Statement of Agreed Facts and Admissions, submitting that a number of contraventions should be found to have been committed by the relevant respondents. The Statement of Agreed Facts and Admissions is attached to this judgment as Annexure 1 ("Annexure 1"). Annexure 2 is a table that sets out the relevant agreed contraventions and penalties for each separate respondent ("Annexure 2"). The matters proceeded by way of admitted contraventions and agreed proposed penalties.
contraventions of the bcii act 5 In the Cozadinos proceeding, the contraventions involve the following: · unlawful industrial action at the Royal Children's Hospital site on 15 and 16 October 2008; · unlawful industrial action at building sites at Victoria Harbour on 15 and 16 October 2008; and · unlawful industrial action at the Royal Children's Hospital site on 28 and 29 November 2008. The contraventions which are admitted in the Cozadinos proceeding involve contraventions of s 38 of the BCII Act. 6 In the Gregor proceeding, the contraventions involve the following: · a block blockade of the Royal Children's Hospital on 12 December 2008; · industrial action at the Royal Children's Hospital on 12 and 15 December 2008; · industrial action at the Royal Children's Hospital on 12 and 13 February 2009; · industrial action on 12 and 13 February 2009 at the Olsen building site; · industrial action on 12 and 13 February 2009 at Victoria Harbour; · industrial action on 12 and 13 February 2009 at the Robin building site; and · a blockade at the Royal Children's Hospital between 18 February and 2 March 2009. The contraventions which are admitted in the Gregor proceeding concern s 43 of the BCII Act.
the penalty provisions 7 Section 38 of the BCII Act provides that "a person must not engage in unlawful industrial action". Conduct is unlawful industrial action if it is industrially motivated, constitutionally connected action and is not excluded action. 8 Section 43 of the BCII Act makes it unlawful for a corporation or organisation to organise or take action, or threaten to organise or take action, with intent to coerce another corporation. 9 Both s 38 and s 43 are Grade A civil penalty provisions. The maximum penalty for contravention of a Grade A penalty provision for a corporation is 1000 penalty units ($110,000). Individuals face a maximum penalty of 200 penalty units ($22,000); see s 49(1)-(2)(a) of the BCII Act and the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 4AA. 10 In summary, the applicants and respondents agree that the appropriate penalties for the various contraventions (set out in Annexure 2) are: · $303,000 for the CFMEU (for 10 contraventions, representing 27.5% of the maximum penalty); · $22,000 for the Mr Reardon (for five contraventions, representing 20% of the maximum penalty); · $27,000 for Mr Hudson (for five contraventions, representing 24.5% of the maximum penalty); · $5,000 for Mr McLoughlin (for one contravention, representing 22.7% of the maximum penalty); · $17,000 for Mr Christopher (for four contraventions, representing 19.3% of the maximum penalty); · $17,000 for Mr Washington (for four contraventions, representing 19.3% of the maximum penalty); · $7,000 for Mr Setka (for two contraventions, representing 31% of the maximum penalty); and · $17,000 for Mr Spernovasilis (for four contraventions, representing 19.3% of the maximum penalty). The total penalties agreed between the parties amount to $415,000.
CONSIDERATION 11 In light of the parties' agreement as to the appropriate penalties to be imposed, the relevant question for this Court is whether the agreed penalty is "appropriate in all the circumstances"; see Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources v Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 72 per Branson, Sackville and Gyles JJ at [51]. This reasoning was adopted from NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285. 12 As pointed out in Mobil Oil, the determination of penalties in the context of such agreement is not an exact science. The question is not whether the Court would have arrived at the same precise figure for the penalties in the absence of the agreement of the parties. Rather, the question is whether the penalty agreed by the parties is within the permissible range of penalties for such contraventions; see Mobil Oil at [51] and [54]. 13 The factors relevant to the determination of an appropriate penalty for a contravention of the Act have been examined by this Court. By way of example, in Stuart-Mahoney v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2008] FCA 1426 at [40] Tracey J referred to the relevant and applicable considerations. These include: · the nature and extent of the conduct which led to the breaches; · the circumstances in which that relevant conduct took place; · the nature and extent of any loss or damage sustained as a result of the breaches; · whether there had been similar previous conduct by the respondent; · whether the breaches were properly distinct or arose out of the one course of conduct; · the size of the business enterprise involved; · whether or not the breaches were deliberate; · whether senior management was involved in the breaches; · whether the party committing the breach had exhibited contrition; · whether the party committing the breach had taken corrective action; · whether the party committing the breach had cooperated with the enforcement authorities; · the need to ensure compliance with minimum standards by provision of an effective means for investigation and enforcement of employee entitlements; and · the need for specific and general deterrence. This list is of course not exhaustive, and as Buchanan J noted in Australian Ophthalmic Supplies Pty Ltd v McAlary-Smith (2008) 165 FCR 560 at 580, the overall concern is to fix a penalty which pays appropriate regard to the circumstances in which the contraventions have occurred.
THE NATURE, CIRCUMSTANCES AND PERIOD OF THE CONTRAVENING CONDUCT 14 The contraventions, referred to in Annexure 1, involve either unlawful industrial action or blockades of major construction sites in Victoria. 15 In summary, the unlawful industrial action took place at the Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria Harbour, and the Olsen and Robin building sites. It involved strike action for approximately 16 days. The blockading took place at the Royal Children's Hospital site and took place over approximately 9 days.
Whether the contraventions were distinct or arose out of one course of conduct 16 In their submissions, the parties referred to several authorities for the proposition that where a person is convicted of more than one contravention, the court may have regard to common aspects of the contraventions in question. It is unnecessary to repeat those authorities here. 17 The parties have agreed to group the contraventions in Annexure 1 for the purpose of assessing penalty. I am satisfied that such grouping is appropriate in the circumstances.
Contrition, corrective action and cooperation 18 The applicants submit that there is no evidence of contrition or any corrective action being taken by any respondent. The respondents submitted both in written submissions and at the hearing that a lack of contrition is not an aggravating circumstance that might increase penalty; see BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2001] FCA 336 at [10]. 19 However, despite a lack of contrition, the respondents and applicants agree that the respondents have been cooperative with the enforcement authorities. By making the admissions in Annexure 1 during an early stage of the proceedings the respondents have obviated the need for a lengthy trial, thereby saving the parties and the Court considerable time and resources. The respondents have further cooperated with the applicants in agreeing with them on the quantum of suggested penalties. Counsel for the respondents submitted, and I agree, that that such cooperative conduct is relevant and is a mitigating factor in the assessment of penalty; see Rural Press v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 118 FCR 304 at [90].
History of similar conduct 20 A history of similar previous conduct is also relevant to the consideration of what an appropriate penalty will be; see Stuart-Mahoney and Duffy v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (No 2) [2009] FCA 299. However, as was pointed out by counsel for the respondent such prior contraventions should not result in the imposition of a penalty that is disproportionate to the gravity of the offences currently before the court; see Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 at 477 - 478. 21 At paragraph 200 - 213 of Annexure 1 the parties have set out those proceedings which relate to the matters presently before the court. The applicants also provided a table collating the prior contraventions of industrial legislation by the CFMEU, and a similar table relating to contravening conduct by the individual respondents. 22 It was noted by counsel for the respondents that the parties did not entirely agree as to the contents of the tables referred to above. It was submitted that not all elements of those tables should be treated as prior contraventions. 23 However, despite this disparity, at paragraph 213 of Annexure 1 the parties have agreed to take into account the fines, penalties and settlement monies paid in the related proceedings in reaching the overall quantum of penalties in the matters currently before the court. I am therefore satisfied that the penalties proposed by the parties are proportionate to the contraventions and take into account the history of the respondents' conduct.
General and specific deterrence 24 An agreed penalty must adequately give effect to general and specific deterrence; Mobil Oil at [69]. I am satisfied that the agreed penalties proposed by the parties are sufficient to provide both general and specific deterrence.
Deliberate conduct, size of the contravener, involvement of senior members 25 The respondents did not contend at the hearing, or in written submissions, that their conduct was inadvertent. The CFMEU did not seek any mitigation of the penalty by virtue of its size or financial position. 26 It is relevant to the assessment of penalties that the contraventions involved relatively senior members within the CFMEU. At the time the contraventions occurred Mr Christopher was branch management committee member; Mr Hudson was branch vice-president and branch delegate to divisional conference; Mr Reardon was branch vice-president and branch delegate to divisional conference; Mr Setka branch assistant secretary and branch delegate to divisional conference; Mr Spernovasilis branch vice president and branch delegate to divisional conference; Mr Washington branch senior vice-president and branch delegate to divisional conference, and Mr McLouglin branch management committee member and branch delegate to divisional conference. 27 The positions held by the above named respondents are to be taken into account, though it is likely that some of these parties may not have been acting autonomously in contravening the BCII Act, but carrying out their roles in accordance with CFMEU policy.
Conclusion 28 In view of considerations discussed the agreed penalty is in the medium range for the contraventions by the CFMEU. The penalty agreed is appropriate in all the circumstances. 29 With regard to the individual respondents, I consider the agreed penalties to be in the medium range. I note, however, that I have some concerns about imposing a monetary penalty on the individual respondents for performing their jobs in accordance with the approach to industrial relations taken by their employer, in circumstances where that respondent has had a monetary penalty imposed on it. Absent the parties agreement I may not have imposed penalties in the same range, particularly given that in some instances the individual named respondents have had no prior contraventions found against them.
COSTS 30 The parties have agreed that each should bear his and its own costs of the proceeding. I certify that the preceding thirty (30) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Marshall.
ANNEXURE 1 - JOINT STATEMENT OF AGREED FACTS AND ADMISSIONS
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA VICTORIA DISTRICT reGISTRY FAIR WORK division File No VID 307 of 2010 murray gregor
Applicant CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION First Respondent derek christopher & Ors Second to Seventh Respondents
File No VID 369 of 2010 MICHELLE COZADINOS
Applicant DEREK CHRISTOPHER First Respondent CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION & Ors Second to Sixth Respondents
JOINT STATEMENT OF AGREED FACTS AND ADMISSIONS This Statement of Agreed Facts is made for the purposes of section 191 of the Evidence Act 1995 (C'th) and the admissions made are made only for the purposes of these proceedings. Filed by the parties to these proceedings pursuant to paragraph 2 of the Order of His Honour Justice Marshall dated 23 May 2011 INDEX Topic Paragraphs A. Background Matters Scope of this document 1-3 Gregor 4 Cozadinos 5 The Union 6 The Union Organisers 7-13 Caelli Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd 14-15 The building work 16 The RCH Site 17-19 The Myer Site 20-22 The ANZ Site 23-25 The Merchant Site 26-28 The Olsen Site 29-31 The Robin Site 32-34 The Montage Site 35-37 The Blue Glue System 38-40 B. 24 September 2008: Unauthorised meetings 41-44 C. 15 and 16 October 2008: Two day strike - RCH Site The unlawful conduct 45-53 Section 38 of the BCII Act 54-62 Reardon and Hudson's contraventions of s.38 63-66 CFMEU liability for the contraventions of s.38 67-68 D. 15 and 16 October 2008: Two day strike - Victoria Harbour Sites The unlawful conduct 69-75 Section 38 of the BCII Act 76-84 McLoughlin's and Christopher's contraventions of s.38 85-88 CFMEU liability for the contraventions of s.38 89-90 E. 28 and 29 November 2008: Two day strike - RCH Site The unlawful conduct 91-95 Section 38 of the BCII Act 96-104 Hudson's contraventions of s.38 105-106 CFMEU liability for the contraventions of s.38 107-108 F. 12 December 2008: Blockade at the RCH Site Background 127-146 Hudson, Washington, Setka, Spernovasilis, Reardon and Christopher's contravention of s.43 147-149 CFMEU liability for contraventions of s.43 150-151 G. 12 and 15 December 2008: Strike action at the RCH Site Industrial action 152-158 Hudson and Washington's contravention of s.43 159-160 CFMEU liability for contraventions of s.43 161-162 H. 12 and 13 February 2009: Strike action at the RCH Site Directions to Angelino to work at the Myer Site 163-165 Industrial action 166-168 Hudson and Washington's contravention of s.43 169-170 CFMEU liability for contraventions of s.43 171-172 I. 12 and 13 February 2009: Strike action at the Olsen Site Industrial action 173-175 McLoughlin's contravention of s.43 176-177 CFMEU liability for contraventions of s.43 178-179 J. 12 and 13 February 2009: Strike action at the Myer Site, ANZ Site and Merchant Site Industrial action 180-183 Christopher, Reardon and Spernovasilis' contravention of s.43 184-185 CFMEU liability for contraventions of s.43 186-187 K. 12 and 13 February 2009: Strike action at the Robin Site Industrial action 188-190 Spernovasilis and Reardon's contravention of s.43 191-192 CFMEU liability for contravention of s.43 193-194 L. 18 February to 2 March 2009: Blockade at the RCH Site The blockade 195-212 Hudson, Washington, Setka, Spernovasilis, Reardon and Christopher's contravention of s.43 213-214 CFMEU liability for contraventions of s.43 215-216 M. Summary of admitted contraventions 217-218 N. Related Proceedings 219-227 O. Appropriate penalties 228-230 Annexure A - Table of Penalties (Gregor v CFMEU & Ors (VID307/2010) & Cozadinos v Christopher & Ors (VID369/2010) Annexure B - Proposed Minutes of Consent Orders (VID 307 of 2010) Annexure C - Proposed Minutes of Consent Orders (VID 369 of 2010)
A. Background matters Scope of this document
File No VID 307 of 2010 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union First Respondent Derek Christopher Second Respondent Matt Hudson Third Respondent Shaun Reardon Fourth Respondent John Setka Fifth Respondent Elias Spernovasilis Sixth Respondent Noel Washington Seventh Respondent
File No VID 307 of 2010 Derek Christopher First Respondent Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Second Respondent Matt Hudson Third Respondent Adrian McLoughlin Fourth Respondent Shaun Reardon Fifth Respondent Noel Washington Sixth Respondent
ANNEXURE 2 - PENALTIES FOR GREGOR v CFMEU & ORS (VID307/2010) & COZADINOS v CHRISTOPHER & ORS (VID369/2010)
Date Nature of conduct Contravention Agreed Penalty Para of SAF Matter 15 and 16 October 2008 RCH 15 and 16 October 2008 unlawful industrial action 1 x s.38 BCII Act CFMEU $35,000 45 - 62 Cozadinos and 67 - 68 1 x s.38 BCII Act1 x s.38 BCII Act Reardon 45 - 62 Cozadinos $5,000 and Cozadinos Hudson $5,000 63-6645 - 62 and 63 - 66 15 and 16 October 2008 Victoria Harbour 15 and 16 October 2008 unlawful industrial action 1 x s.38 BCII Act CFMEU $20,000 69 - 84 Cozadinos and 89 - 90 1 x s.38 BCII Act McLoughlin $5,000 69 - 84 Cozadinos 1 x s.38 BCII Act Christopher $5,000 and Cozadinos 85 - 88 69 - 84 and 85 - 88 28 and 29 November 2008 RCH 28 and 29 November 2008 unlawful industrial action 1 x s.38 BCII Act CFMEU $30,000 91 - 104 Cozadinos and 107 - 108 1 x s.38 BCII Act Hudson $5,000 91 - 104 Cozadinos and 105 - 106 12 December 2008 RCH 12 December 2008 blockade 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU 127 - 147 Gregor $18,000 and 150 - 151 1 x s.43 BCII Act Hudson $2,000 127 - 147 Gregor and 148 - 149 1 x s.43 BCII Act Washington 127 - 147 Gregor $2,000 and 148 - 149 1 x s.43 BCII Act Christopher $2,000 127 - 147 Gregor and 148 - 149 1 x s.43 BCII Act Setka 127 - 147 Gregor $2,000 and 148 - 149 1 x s.43 BCII Act Spernovasilis 127 - 147 Gregor $2,000 and 148 - 149 1 x s.43 BCII Act Reardon 127 - 147 Gregor $2,000 and 148 - 149 12 and 15 December 2008 RCH 12 and 15 December 2008 industrial action 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU $30,000 152 - 158 Gregor and 161 - 162 1 x s.43 BCII Act Hudson 152 - 158 Gregor $5,000 and 159 - 160 1 x s.43 BCII Act Washington 152 - 158 Gregor $5,000 and 159 - 160 12 and 13 February 2009 RCH 12 and 13 February 2009 industrial action 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU 163 - 168 Gregor $40,000 and 171 - 172 1 x s.43 BCII Act Hudson 163 - 168 Gregor $5,000 and 169 - 170 1 x s.43 BCII Act Washington 163 - 168 Gregor $5,000 and 169 - 170 12 and 13 February 2009 Olsen 12 and 13 February 2009 industrial action 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU 173 - 175 Gregor $30,000 and 178 - 179 12 and 13 February 2009 Victoria Harbour 12 and 13 February 2009 industrial action 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU 180 - 183 Gregor $30,000 and 186 - 187 1 x s.43 BCII Act Christopher 180 - 183 Gregor $5,000 and 184 - 185 1 x s.43 BCII Act Spernovasilis 180 - 183 Gregor $5,000 and 184 - 185 1 x s.43 BCII Act Reardon 180 - 183 Gregor $5,000 and 184 - 185 12 and 13 February 2009 Robin 12 and 13 February 2009 industrial action 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU 188 - 190 Gregor $30,000 and 193 - 194 1 x s.43 BCII Act Spernovasilis $5,000 188 - 190 Gregor and 193 - 194 1 x s.43 BCII Act Reardon $5,000 188 - 190 Gregor and 193 - 194 18 February - 2 March 2009 RCH 18 February 2009 to 2 March 2009 blockade 1 x s.43 BCII Act CFMEU $40,000 195 - 212 Gregor and 215 - 216 1 x s.43 BCII Act Hudson $5,000 195 - 212 Gregor and 213 - 214 1 x s.43 BCII Act Washington $5,000 195 - 212 Gregor and 213 - 214 1 x s.43 BCII Act Christopher $5,000 195 - 212 Gregor and 213 - 214 1 x s.43 BCII Act Setka 195 - 212 Gregor $5,000 and 213 - 214 1 x s.43 BCII Act Spernovasilis $5,000 195 - 212 Gregor and 213 - 214 1 x s.43 BCII Act Reardon $5,000 195 - 212 Gregor and 213 - 214 Total $415,000
Gregor
Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union
(1996) 71 FCR 285
(2008) 165 FCR 560
(2002) 118 FCR 304
(1988) 164 CLR 465