Attalla v Star Track Express Pty Ltd

[2016] FWC 1090

[2016] FWC 1090

REASONS FOR DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.394—Unfair dismissal
Michael Attalla
v
Star Track Express Pty Ltd T/A Star Track Express
(U2015/16689)
SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT DRAKE	SYDNEY, 19 FEBRUARY 2016
Application for relief from unfair dismissal.

[1]        This decision arises from an application for an extension of time for lodgement of an

application for an unfair dismissal remedy pursuant to section 394 of the Fair Work Act 2009

(the Act).

[2]        The respondent submitted that the relationship between Mr Attalla and it ended on 17

November 2015. Mr Attalla lodged his application at the Fair Work Commission on 10

December 2015. On the basis of the respondent’s submission Mr Attalla’s application was

lodged in two days outside the statutory time limit. I have considered this extension of time

application on the basis of the respondent’s date.

[3]        When determining this application I had before me the Application for Unfair

Dismissal lodged by Mr Attalla. Paragraph 1.4 of the application is set out below.

1.4.1 The application is being filed late as a result of representative error.

1.4.2 On 20 November 2015 mr Michael Attalla received a letter dated 19 November

2015 from Star Track Express Pty Ltd (the Company) confirming that he was

dismissed from his employment.

1.4.3 On 20 November 2015 Mr Attalla informed his representative, the Transport

Workers’ Union of Australia, NSW Branch (TWU) of his dismissal and instructed the

TWU to file for unfair dismissal on his behalf.

[2016] FWC 1090

1.4.4 On or around 20 November 2015 the TWU allocated carriage of Mr Attalla’s

matter to Mr Adam Grumley, TWU Members Services Centre Official.

1.4.5 Mr Grumley commenced internal TWU processes to arrange for the unfair

dismissal matter to be filed on Mr Attalla’s behalf.

1.4.6 Mr Grumley communicated with the Company and Mr Attalla and assured Mr

Attalla that the application would be filed on his behalf.

1.4.7 In early December 2015 Mr Grumley was absent from the office for several days

and did not have access to his TWU email or files relating to Mr Attalla.

1.4.8 On 10 December 2015 Mr Grumley referred the matter to the TWU’s Legal

Department. The matter was filed the same day.

1.4.9 An extension of time should be granted because there are exceptional

circumstances, considering:

a)	The reason for the delay was representational error;
b)	Mr Attalla only received written confirmation of his dismissal days after it

occurred;

c) Mr Grumley was in contact with the Company to dispute the dismissal on

behalf of Mr Attalla;

d) There would be minimal prejudice to the Company flowing from a delay of

two days;

e)	There is a prima facie case for unfair dismissal remedy and
f)	It would be fair when Mr Attalla’s situation is compared to other like persons.

[4]        I wrote to Mr Attalla on 17 December 2015 outlining the matters I was required to

consider by the Act and asked him to provide a statement addressing these matters within 14

days. Mr Attalla’s union, the Transport Workers Union, provided a comprehensive

submission and two statements from Mr Adam Grumley and Mr Luke Maroney. The

respondent provided submissions in opposition to an extension of time for lodgement. I

considered the submissions and issued an Order granting the application an extension of time.

[5]        The relevant legislative framework for the exercise of the Fair Work Commission’s

discretion in relation to applications of this kind is set out below:

394 Application for unfair dismissal remedy

...

(3) The FWC may allow a further period for the application to be made by a person

under subsection (1) if the FWC is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances,

taking into account:

(a) the reason for the delay; and

[2016] FWC 1090

(b) whether the person first became aware of the dismissal after it had taken

effect; and

(c) any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal; and

(d) prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay); and

(e) the merits of the application; and

(f) fairness as between the person and other persons in a similar position.

[6]        The meaning of “exceptional circumstances” was considered in Nulty v Blue Star

Group Pty Ltd [2011] FWAFB 975 where the Full Bench said:

“[10] It is convenient to deal first with the meaning of the expression “exceptional

circumstances” in s.366(2). In Cheval Properties Pty Ltd v Smithers a Full Bench of

FWA considered the meaning of the expression “exceptional circumstances” in

s.394(3) and held:

“[5] The word “exceptional” is relevantly defined in The Macquarie Dictionary

as “forming an exception or unusual instance; unusual; extraordinary.” We can

apprehend no reason for giving the word a meaning other than its ordinary

meaning for the purposes of s.394(3) of the FW Act.”

[11] Given that s.366(2) is in relevantly identical terms to s.394(3), this statement of

principle is equally applicable to s.366(2).

[12] The ordinary meaning of the expression “exceptional circumstances” was

considered by Rares J in Ho v Professional Services Review Committee No 295 a case

involving in s.106KA of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth). His Honour observed:

“23. I am of opinion that the expression ‘exceptional circumstances’ requires

consideration of all the circumstances. In Griffiths v The Queen (1989) 167

CLR 372 at 379 Brennan and Dawson JJ considered a statutory provision

which entitled either a parole board or a court to specify a shorter non-parole

period than that required under another section only if it determined that the

circumstances justified that course. They said of the appellant’s circumstances:

‘Although no one of these factors was exceptional, in combination they

may reasonably be regarded as amounting to exceptional

circumstances.’

24. Brennan and Dawson JJ held that the failure in that case to evaluate the

relevant circumstances in combination was a failure to consider matters which

[2016] FWC 1090

were relevant to the exercise of the discretion under the section (167 CLR at

379). Deane J, (with whom Gaudron and McHugh JJ expressed their

concurrence on this point, albeit that they were dissenting) explained that the

power under consideration allowed departure from the norm only in the

exceptional or special case where the circumstances justified it (167 CLR at

383, 397).

25. And, in Baker v The Queen (2004) 223 CLR 513 at 573 [173] Callinan J

referred with approval to what Lord Bingham of Cornhill CJ had said in R v

Kelly (Edward) [2000] QB 198 at 208, namely:

‘We must construe "exceptional" as an ordinary, familiar English

adjective, and not as a term of art. It describes a circumstance which is

such as to form an exception, which is out of the ordinary course, or

unusual, or special, or uncommon. To be exceptional a circumstance

need not be unique, or unprecedented, or very rare; but it cannot be one

that is regularly, or routinely, or normally encountered.’

26. Exceptional circumstances within the meaning of s 106KA(2) can include a

single exceptional matter, a combination of exceptional factors or a

combination of ordinary factors which, although individually of no particular

significance, when taken together are seen as exceptional. Thus, the sun and

moon appear in the sky everyday and there is nothing exceptional about seeing

them both simultaneously during day time. But an eclipse, whether lunar or

solar, is exceptional, even though it can be predicted, because it is outside the

usual course of events.

27. It is not correct to construe ‘exceptional circumstances’ as being only some

unexpected occurrence, although frequently it will be. Nor is it correct to

construe the plural ‘circumstances’ as if it were only a singular occurrence,

even though it can be a one off situation. The ordinary and natural meaning of

‘exceptional circumstances’ in s 106KA(2) includes a combination of factors

which, when viewed together, may reasonably be seen as producing a situation

which is out of the ordinary course, unusual, special or uncommon. And, the

section is directed to the circumstances of the actual practitioner, not a

hypothetical being, when he or she initiates or renders the services.”

[2016] FWC 1090

[13] In summary, the expression “exceptional circumstances” has its ordinary meaning

and requires consideration of all the circumstances. To be exceptional, circumstances

must be out of the ordinary course, or unusual, or special, or uncommon but need not

be unique, or unprecedented, or very rare. Circumstances will not be exceptional if

they are regularly, or routinely, or normally encountered. Exceptional circumstances

can include a single exceptional matter, a combination of exceptional factors or a

combination of ordinary factors which, although individually of no particular

significance, when taken together are seen as exceptional. It is not correct to construe

“exceptional circumstances” as being only some unexpected occurrence, although

frequently it will be. Nor is it correct to construe the plural “circumstances” as if it

were only a singular occurrence, even though it can be a one off situation. The

ordinary and natural meaning of “exceptional circumstances” includes a combination

of factors which, when viewed together, may reasonably be seen as producing a

situation which is out of the ordinary course, unusual, special or uncommon.”

[Endnotes not reproduced]

[7] For exceptional circumstances to arise as contemplated by s394 of the Act, it is not

necessary that the applicant for that extension of time be overtaken by a catastrophic event.

Reasons for delay in the category of extreme events are not necessary to meet the test. All of

the factors outlined in s394 (3) must be considered and weighed when deciding whether or not

exceptional circumstances, circumstances sufficient to support an exception, exist.

[8] I considered the various criteria to which my attention is directed by s.394 (3) of the

Act.

reason for the delay-s.394(3)(a)

[9]        The reasons Mr Attalla provided for his delay in lodgement were :

	Representative error;
	a delay in receiving written confirmation of the termination of his employment,

and

 negotiations between the TWU and the respondent to dispute the dismissal of Mr

Attalla.
[2016] FWC 1090

[10]      I was persuaded that Mr Attalla’s reasons for delay were out of the ordinary, unusual

or uncommon.

whether the person first became aware of the dismissal after it had taken effect-

s.394(3)(b)

[11]      Mr Attalla became aware of the end of his relationship with the respondent on 17

November 2015 or shortly thereafter.

any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal-s.394(3)(c)

[12]      Mr Attalla disputed his dismissal by having his union dispute the dismissal directly

and by lodging this application.

prejudice to the employer-s.394(3)(d)

[13]      I was satisfied that there would be no greater prejudice to the respondent caused by Mr

Attalla’s application being listed now than there would have been had it been lodged in time.

Prejudice to the respondent was a neutral consideration.

the merits of the application-s.394(3)(e)

[14]      Merit was a neutral issue in my consideration of this application.

fairness as between Mr Attalla and other persons in a similar position-S.394(3)(f)

[15]      There was no issue of fairness in relation to any other person in a similar position.

[2016] FWC 1090

[16]      Having considered all of the matters to which my attention is directed by the Act I was

satisfied that there were circumstances which would warrant my granting an exception to the

statutory time limit and on that basis granted the application.

SENIOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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