Key decisions
- Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Fair Work Ombudsman (Cross River Rail Appeal) [2024] FCAFC 1
INDUSTRIAL LAW
Whether primary judge erred in finding visitor entry and conduct requirements were occupational health and safety requirements for purposes of s 499 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) – whether primary judge erred in finding breach of s 500 – penalties to be redetermined.
Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Fair Work Ombudsman (Cross River Rail Appeal) [2024] FCAFC 1 (Halley, Goodman and McElwaine JJ)
In Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Fair Work Ombudsman (Cross River Rail Appeal) [2024] FCAFC 1 (‘CFMMEU v FWA’), Mr Dean Rielly (the Second Appellant) was employed by the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (the First Appellant) (‘CFMMEU’) as a union official and state organiser. On 1 July 2021, Mr Rielly attended the Brisbane Cross River Rail Construction Project Worksite (the ‘Worksite’). In his capacity as a permit holder pursuant to ss 497 and 500 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (‘FW Act’), Mr Rielly produced a notice under s 119 of the Work, Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (‘WHS Act’). The notice detailed Mr Rielly’s suspicions that the person conducting a business or undertaking (‘PCBU’) at the Worksite was in breach of its statutory obligations under s 19(3) of the WHS Act (at [5]). On entering the Worksite, ‘Mr Rielly refused to sign-in or undertake a written site induction and was not given an oral sign-in or induction’ (at [6]).