[2025] FWC 866
General information, not legal advice.
Fair Work Commission
2025-03-27
Original judgment source is linked above.
s.306E - Application for a regulated labour hire arrangement order
SKILLED WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS (NSW) PTY LTD REGULATED LABOUR HIRE ARRANGEMENT ORDER
Regulated labour hire arrangement order - Skilled Workforce Solutions (NSW) Pty Ltd in relation to work performed for Mt Arthur Coal Pty Ltd.
This Agreement covers and applies to the following parties:
The Agreement also covers the Mining and Energy Union (MEU).
This Agreement is binding on all of the above parties.
A trainee shall commence at the Trainee Commencement level and, subject to successfully completing the required training, shall progress to the Mineworker level upon gaining 1 core skills and progress to Mineworker Advanced level upon obtaining 3 skills in total.
New employees, other than trainees, shall commence at the Mineworker level and progress to the Mineworker Advanced level after obtaining 3 skills or at the company's discretion.
Apprentices shall progress according to their year of apprenticeship in accordance with the relevant table.
(a) Programmed supplies employees employed by Skilled to perform work for BHP at the Mine involving production work.
(b) The Agreement would apply to employees of Skilled who are supplied to perform work for BHP if BHP were to employ those employees directly to undertake the same kind of work.
(a) There is no evidence that Skilled has any involvement in matters relating to the performance of work by employees of Skilled working at the Mine.
(b) The evidence indicates that, while there is some supervision by Skilled employed supervisors, BHP arranges and oversees the work of Skilled employees who are supplied to perform work at the Mine, Skilled employees are assigned work by BHP, supervisors employed by BHP direct, instruct and monitor the work of Skilled employees and Skilled employees are subject to the same sign in/sign out and rosters as BHP employees.
(c) BHP and Skilled employees work alongside one another and use the same plant and equipment supplied by BHP and use the same crib facilities. Skilled employees are subject to operational procedures, health and safety systems and other policies and procedures established and enforced by BHP.
(d) There is no evidence that Skilled (or Programmed) is or will be subject to industry or professional standards or responsibilities in relation to the work of employees of Skilled supplied to BHP.
(e) The work undertaken by Skilled employees at the Mine involves the operation of plant and equipment and employees are provided with appropriate training, but it does not involve work of a specialist or professional nature.
The regulated employees covered by the order are employees of the Employer who perform work at the Mt Arthur North near Muswellbrook in the State of New South Wales who would, if employed by the Regulated Host, be covered by the host employment instrument (identified in item A.4 of this Order).
Dragline operation; Auger operation; Truck operation; Shovel operation; Cable handling; Drilling; Blasting; Shotfiring; Scraper operation; Excavator operation; Loader operation; Grader operation; Dozer operation; Pit Dewatering; Equipment servicing and maintenance; Washplant operation; Coal handling; Reclaim operation; Loader operation; Grader operation; Load out operation; Crusher/conveyor operation; Washplant servicing and maintenance; Tyre fitting; Crane operation; Rigging and dogging; Cross-trade skilling.

Mr L Howard, Counsel for Skilled Workforce Solutions New South Wales Pty Ltd
[3] Vanstone v Clark [2005] FCAFC 189; (2005) 147 FCR 299 at [13]; Beame v Commissioner of Police (NSW) [2023] NSWSC 347; (2023) 297 A Crim R 131 at [75].
[4] MTIA v AMWU (1997) 87 and TWU v AIRC (2008) 166 CR 108
[5] Batchfire Callide Management Pty Ltd - LH200001 PR777029; Boggabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd -LH200011 PR780875; Stanmore SMC Pty Ltd - LH200007 PR780868; Anglo Coal (Capcoal Management) Pty Ltd - LH200006 PR780862; Anglo Coal (Capcoal Management) Pty Ltd - LH200005 PR780861; Peabody Energy Australia PCI Mine Management Pty Ltd - LH200009 PR780878_; Peabody Energy Australia PCI Mine Management Pty Ltd -_ LH200008 PR780870; Peabody Energy Australia PCI Mine Management Pty Ltd - LH200010 PR780872_; Illawarra Coal Holdings Pty Ltd_ - LH200014 PR782176.
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
(2005) 147 FCR 299