Bourke, Michael Patrick v Mapstone, David John Garland

[1984] FCA 100

C O E d : Xorthrop J .

-	DATE :	9 Aprll 1984
WlIER'd I i 4 P E :	Erlsbane

.

COTiriM:	Northrop J.
PLACE :	Brisbane
DATE :	9 Apri l 1984
-

REASONS FOR JU?G"!!?:.??T

Mlchae l Pa t r ick 2ocrke is a mm&r 05 ths Fcciercterl

Clerks' Union of A u s t r a l i a ( " t h e U n l o n " ) , an o r q n n i z a t i o n c:

employees under the C o n c i l l a t l o n a n d A r S l t r 3 t i c n A c t 299,:

( " t h e A c t " ) . H e i s a t t a c h e d CO the Federatsci Clcrks ' U!11.on

of A u s t r a l 1 2 (Cen t ra l and Sou the rn i?uaens lzx i S ranch) Un2-71

of Employees ( " t h e S r a ~ c h " ) , 2 kranch vf che L n ~ ~ o r . I I e 1 s z.

memhsr cf t h e Erancli C.-:unc> 1 o i t h e Br3::zii. Cm 1 4 O c t o : - r , r

- 2 -

1963 he conmsnced t h e s e p r o c e e d l n G s a ? a l n s t t h e U n l c n ar:d C -

t w e n t y o t h e r members o f t he Cranch Counc l l . l ? ~ e cen t rE

i ssue r a i s e d b y t h e p r o c e e d l n g s i s whether a r e s o l u k l T c

acted upon by the Branch Councll on 11 February i-033 1 ”.

dismisslng ten em9loyees omploycd by the Dranch, was val7-d.

I f t h e resolution 1 s I n v a l i d , c o n s e q u e n t i a l orc‘ers ar:

s o u g h t , b u t h a t p a r t o f t h e p r o c a e d i n q s h a s b e e n d e f e r r e , ’

p e n d i n g t h e d e t e r m l n a r l o n of t h e v a l i d i c y of t h e r e s o l u t i o ~ , .

The proceedlngs a re b rought under 9 .141 of t h e Act and t l ) ~

Union 1 s a p a r t y s i n c e o r d e r s a r e s o u g h t r e l a t i n g t o t?,r.

v a l i d l t y o f B r a n c h R 9 1 2 3 1 ( c ) .

When t h e p r o c e e d i n g s came o n f o r h e a r i n g , t h e t e n

employees who had been dismisscd from thelr cmp1o:ment 51.

r eason of t h e r e s o l u t i o n , S e i n g members of the Union , verc-

g r a n t e d l e a v e t o be ad6ed a s a p p l i c a n t s I n t h e p r o c e c d i n g s .

T h o s e t m e m b e r s n a r e P a t r i c k B r o p h y , J o h n Fox, Pax1

G r i f f i t h , Ted Kowalski, Davld L C W ~ S , Vlnce McKennn, Gordon

McPherson, John Xucifora, Geoff Purcell and Grahnm Treacy.

At the hear ing , counsc l appear :< for the e l e v e ?

app l l can t s . Counse l appea red f c r t he Un ion . A s o l i c l t o r

appeared on behalf of two of t he r e sponden t s , name ly Bar?-:-

Trevor L lnske t and Er lan Franc is Tooley . H e announced t b t .

h i s two c l i e n t s consenkcci to t h e o r d c r s s o u q h t b y t ? I c

. - 3 -

These? p r o c e e ? i n g s a r e b u t a n o t h 3 r p a r t 05 a seriec;

o f l c g a l a c t l o n s f o l l o w l n q e l e c t i o n s within tile C'nlon and t h e

Branch which were c o n d ~ c t e d i n t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f t h e y e a r

1982. A t t hose l ecClons a n u x S e r o f e x i s t j n q o f i i c e r s o E

t h e Union acd of t h e Erancl1 ,<'ere d e f e a t e d . An c l e c t l c . ,

i nqu i ry unde r t h e Act involvlng the Unlon tras co!1rl~.icted b j l d

Ful l Cour t Nove!rtbcr 1983 111 favour 0: the of the Fede ra l Cour t hnd ; u d c ~ e n t was ai-,-en 0- 3

?Ersons e:ecteZ. Fc l l cwl r~~

t h e d i s m i s s a l of t h e t e n empl-oyees on 11 February 1983, elq?!t

of t hen appea led EO the Federa l Execut ive of the U n j o n . FivP

o f t he r e sponden t s t o the p re sen t p roceed i .ngs t he reupo~

comenced proceedings i n t h e Fefieral . Court chal lenging the

v a l i d i t y o f t h o s e a p p e a l s . On G June 1983 the C o u r t h e l d

t h a t u n d e r e i g h t p s r s o n s h a d t h e r u l e s of the Unlon and of the Granch those

no r i g h t t o a p p e a l t o the Fe6eral Executive

and made a p p r o p r l a t e o r d e r s u n d e r s u b - s e c t i o n 141 (1G) of the

A c t . On 4 November 1983 a F u l l C o u r t o f t h e F e d e r a l C o u r t ,

by ma]o r i ty , c? l sn i s sed appea l s f ron the o rde r s mace on G June

1983. For t h e ~ o ~ n t 2

p r o p e r ~udyr ren t of TJortiTrop and i;i.rby	u n d e r s t a n d i n 2	o f	t h e	p r e s e n t	p r o c e e d l n g 4
J . J . ln ' those ,:ppEals

s h o u l d b e r a < , b u t fo r p esent purpo5es the fo l lo- , - l l : :

extr?.cE fro:) t h a t juclgmcnt 1 s p e r t l n e n r :

- 4 -

" A t t h i s s t a g c , It i s o f unportanc-? t~ s h ~ c

!*'hat i s s u e s are n o t r a i s e d by tl-e sz,?e?.ls. A S

h a s b e e n s ' i z t z d , t h e c s s ? n t l a l Issue raiser? i s

whe the r u r?de r the ru1c .s of the Ur.ion,

i n c l u d ~ n g t h e F e d . RGles anc: t ! l s Rrsncb F h ! o s ,

t h e former employees of t i l e C . h S . Q. I?~hnch

h a v e a r l g h t o f a p p e a l t o t h e Fcd?r;ll.

E x e c u t l v e a g a l n s t the Lec r s lon of t;?e C . &

S . Q . B r a a c h C o u n c l l o n s t l t - i t e d b y t h e

r e s o l u t l o r , t o t e r m : n a t e t h e i r enployze' :c.

Implicit I n t h a t 1 5 s : : ~ 1s t h e j ?SE* ~.~::qct.;ler,

u n d e r t h e r u l e s of the Union , t!-.s F ~ , - l e r a l

ExecGtive ha.; t he pobe r CO h e a r am3 d e t c r n j n c

t h o s e a p p e a l s . J f t h e ?:1swec to t h a t

essential issue i s in t h e aff i rnlat lve, tre

subshd ia ry issues a r l s e , ntlmely v~hethci- thr.

Fecieral Executlve hs s tile powc3r t o enlr;loy

t h o s e p e r s o n s p e n d i n 9 t h e e a r l n q a : l 2

d e t e r m i n a t i o n of the appea l s , and lf C O ,

whether it hes t he pswf r t o reccup 5-o?> chc C .

& S.Q. Sranch wage.; p a l d t o those pe r sons .

The ssue of w h e t h e r t h e e:;:?loymc.!1t ,vas

t e rmina ted l a w f u l l y hy t h e C. S. S . 9 . 3rnr.ch i s

n o t r a i s e d on t h i s a p p a l . T'ie r;ues!.lon of

w h a t remedies , l f any, the c ' i sxisscc! e3::loyees

h a v e , e i t h e r by s t a t u t e o r by ccmnotl lav,

a g a i n s t t h e Unlon or t h e C. & S.Q. Branch, 1 s

n o t r a i s e d 011 t h i s a p p s a l e v e n though 20~1n::el

for the appellants before t h i s C o u r t s o ~ ~ h r t o

r e l y upon the consequences of Lhe dlsrnhssal ~n

suppor t of c o n t e n t l o n s r a d e 1.3 s u p p o ~ t of t h e

s u b s l d i a r y i s s u e s . On t h e a.pp2al. b c f o r e t h l s

C o u r t , t h e a n s w e r s t o t h e i s s u e . r a i s e d clspend

u p o n t h e p r o F e r c c n s t r u c t i o n of the r u l e s 0 2

the Unlon , lnc ludlnq t3e Fed . R u l e s azd the

Branch Rules. "

- 5 -

Under t h e E r m c h R u l z s , t h e s u p r r ~ l e c o n t r01 sa<

-

managemcnt o f t’p.~? Eranch i s v e s t e d 15 th? Branch Councll . L L

cons i s t s o f t he S ranch P res iden t , r he Branch V lce -Tr . ? s idcc t ,

t h e Branch Secretary and che Assistant Branch Secre~ar;7 iIbO

are t h e w i t h s e v e n t e e n d i s t r i c t f o u r o f f i c e r s of the Branch , sec Rule 25 , t o q e t k e r

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s e l e c t e d 1p. accfJ1rda;:cc

w i t h e Rules; I n p a r t i c u l a r sec Rule 2G. Thc La.-c’>

’ C o u n c l l meets a t l e a s t t h r e e times a y e a r , huC e x t r d a r f i l n z r y

meet lngs may be he ld : see Fhle 30 whjch 1s SPL o u t i n f u l l :

“30. MEETINGS OF ERAMCH C0UF:CTL

The Branch Councl l s h a l l meet a t l e a s t

t h r e e tlmes a y e a r , b u t t h e l3rar.ch ? r e s i d e n t

o n r e c e i p t of a r e q u l s l t i o n i n iir1tir:g signc-J

by four members o f t h e Brar.c!l Counci l c? , l l lnq

f o r a n Exrraorcllnary meeting of the Branch

Counci l , s h a l l cause a copy of s m e t o Se

submi t ted by t he Branch Sec re t a ry t o e a c h

member o f the Branch CouEcl l , and upon a

m a ~ o r i t y of them r e p l y ~ . n g l n w r i t i n g i n t k e

a f f l r m a t i v e , h e s h a l l forthwith c a l l ar.

Ex t r ao rd ina ry mee t lng of Eranch Councll , which

meerlng shall Se h e l d w i t h l n f o u r t e e n ( 1 4 )

days of t h e d a t e on whlch no’:lces c a l l i n $ s u c h

were i s s u e d . Such r e q u i s i t l o n s’hsll

meet lng

specify the o b l e c t s of the p roposed Councl l

meetlncj. A n Ex t r ao rd ina ry Lleeti!lq o E t h e

Branch Councll may a l s o b e c a l l e d iJ:/ ’-be

Branch Preslclcn: or by any mer,ber of ths

Branch Executive sut’1orlsc.l by a resolution of

the Eranch Executive. I‘

Betweea Feet lngs of Branch Counci l control , of the Eranc3 1 s

v e s t e d i n the Brznch Execut ive kh lch com_nrises the f o n r

o f f i c e r s , t o g e t h e r & t h f i v e o t h e r r lelcbers of !-he ?.r?nch

Eranch R u l e 31 i s of importance a n d 1s s e t nut 17.

f U11 :

"31.

( a ) A t I w c t l n q s of Eranch Council zll

Branch C o u n c l l l o r s o t h e r t h a n t h e Grcnc!l

P r e s i d e n t s h a l l be c n t l t l e d t o a pr imary 1'cLe.

(b) When a Eranch Counci l lor is a c t i n a

a s t h e Chairman, ho::'ever, :?e shal.1 havs the

same v o t i n g powsr as 1 f ;??- wcrz ! ~ c t Chai;-:n?r,

e x c e p t I n t h e eve:?-c of tllc v o t i n g b e ~ n g equal,

i n wh ich case he	shall	also	e x e r c l s e	a	cdsc inq
v o t e .

( C ) For t h e convcnience of Ternbers of

Branch Councll , a mocion noveci a:!? seconded

may be submi t ted i n w r i t i n g t o t h e B r a n c h

P r e s i s e n t , who s h a l l tY.ereupon c;Insc E c o ~ y of

same to be subrnl t teci by ';he Erancl1 S e c r e t a r y

t o e a c h member of thc Rrarlch C o u n c ~ l , and upon

a ma-~or i ty of them giving t h e i r a s s e n t i n

w r i t i n g , SUCh motlon shall. thereupox Secome ,3

r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e ] ? r a n c h C o u n c i l , as though

same had been passed a t a c o n s t j tu ted Eranch

Counci l meet ing.

( 6 ) I n the even t o f Errinch Execut;ve

c a r r y l n a a motion v - n l c h r e i u i r o s or f o r whicll

Branch Executlve desi:-es in!n,zdlate q>prov?.l o r

consen t of the Branch Counci l , 1.hc Rranch

S e c r e t a r y shall i :mediatcly suppl:r a copy of

such r a so lu t lon t o each 1i;ernixr of t h e Eianch

Cocnci l , and upon a m a ~ o r l t y of the)? FivLry

t h e i r a s s e n t lr? t . r l t l n g , 411ch resclutlcn shcl 1

thereupoi> become a resol.1-Lxoq o f t b c ErZnck

Coun-11 as thscqh 1~ had ':>=e? u=ssed 3 t 2

cons t i cu ted S ranch Ccunc l l n lnc t l rg .

Provldcci that. i f ! r ~ . t h ~ n a rm27-jcG Qf 1 1

d ~ y s f rom the : issl>stc ' l G: ~ ~ 1 - c ~ r ? t c r PT

t e l e g r a n , a re501 S.= -~G:> has not hec:~ ' c c ~ , - - : - - . . .Ll l '2 L

I

- 7 -

i n acco rdaxce wit?, t h e f@irqolnq u r o v i s l o n ,

and f u r t h e r p r o v i d c d t h a t t h e nu rhe r cyf v c t e s

r eco rde i t qua l s rke f s ' ; ab l l shed qdordn , then

t h e r e s o l u t i o n s h a l l d b e t e r m i n e d in

a c c o r d a n c e w l t h t m a j o r l t y e of o p ~ n i o r .

e x p r e s s e d a n d s h a l l t h e r e u p o n b e c o r l e a

r e so lu t ion o f t he : ) r anch Cocnc i l a s tho::gh ~t

h a d b e e n Counci l p ~ ~ s e d a t a c o n s t l t u t e d B r a n c h

nectlng.

..

F u r t h e r p r o v i d c d t h a t , : 1 a f t e r e x p i r y of

a q u o r u m 3: votcs h a s n @ t been

s u c h p e r l d

recordcd the r e s o i u t x o n s h a l l lapse. "

Ten f i n a n c i a l m e n b e r s Form a quorum fo r Branch Counc i l s ee ;

R u l e 57.

For the sake of convenlcnce, Sules 3 2 ancl 4 8 a r c

se t o u t m f u l l :

" 3 2 . EMPLOYNCNl' OF BR.1NCI-I STAFF

The Zranch Council may make s u c h a d d i t i o n s

or r e d u c t i o n s t o B r a n c h S t a f f a s It c o n s l d c r s

necessa ry and sha l l have authority t o s u s p e n d

or dismiss E x e c u t i v e f rom off ice any employee. Branch

s h a l l h a v e p o w e r t o make sucb

temporary appoin tnents CO s t a f f vacancies a s

1s c o n s l c l e r e d n e c e s s a r y s u b ~ e c t tO

confirmation by Branch Councll or t o shspend

any O€f lccr or e.mployee of the Branch ?L any

t ime providlnc thaZ such O€Zicer s r employee

s h a l l h a v e t h e r l g h t o f a n p e a l t o Branch

Councl l .

- a -

I n t h e i r r e a s o n s f o r j u d g m e n t g i v e n on 4 f:ovcmber 1923,

Northrop and Kirby JJ. s e t o u t Rules 3 2 an2 48 and rhen sal5

of Rule 6 8 :

" D l f f i c u l t i e s a r i se i n the cons t rucC1oq of

t h i s r u l e , r e l e v a n t r u l e b u t c o u n s e l Cor t h e p a r t l e s he€ore

the Ccur t ag reed tha t fo r p re sen t _nurposes l;he

1 s Branch Rule 32. "

No slmilar c o r c e s s l o n was made I n t h e p r e s e n t p r o c c e d i n a s ,

b u t t h e d l f f i c u l t i e s d i s a p p e e r o n a p r o p e r c o n s t r u c c i o n of

Rule 48. That r u l e empowers a Branch Counc l l t o dec ide the

salaries t o be pa id t o o f f l c l a l s and employees of the Cranc'l.

I n the Branch Rules the word "Union" i s o f t c n u s e d t o

describe " the Branch". I n Rule 48 t h e word "de te r - lned" i s

used i n t h e s n s e " d e c i d i n g " . o f T h e r c a f t e r , t h e u l e

c o n f e r s a n e x p r e s s power on tine Branch Council. tr, enqeqe

other employees and t o dec lde t he t e rms of t h a t ennaqemcnt,

b u t t h e t e r m s m u s t be on a weckly b a s l s . A n e n q a q x ~ e n t ,

t h e r e f o r e , on a m o n t h l y o r y e n r l y b a s i s o r f o r a t e r x of

y e a r s would n o t be authorized Rule by 48. T h e wor2s

"de te rmine" and "de te rx jnz t lon" a r e u sed I n t h e S E R S ~ of

" d e c i d l n y " . The last. p a r t o f t h e r u l e c o n t a i n s a 1 in i : a r io r i

on t h e pow5r t o engaqe employccs. On this co;'s'-ruc:izn,

wh~.ch l n 7 1 7 D s i n l r , I 1 s c o r r e c t , no conZL1ct z r l s c5 be'c.<;cet,

Rule 32 and Xule 48. F u i e 4s is not ~ I Z C C C ~ C ~ t o =hp

- 9 -

Some of the a p p l i c a n t s i n the present. procced:-ngs

had been engaged by the Bran& as S e c r e t a r y / ? r g a n l s e r s u n d e r

Rule 4 6 or as Branch Organisers under R u l e 47. Tkose tvo

r u l e s a r e s e t o u t l n f u l l l n t h e j o l n t j u d ~ ~ e n t of Sortl?roL>

and Klrby JJ. l n t h e Fd11 C o u r t d e r l s l o n g i 7 e n on 4 November

1983 an13 need no t be r epza ted . For p re sen t pu rposes i t i s

s u f f l c i e n t o s a y that t h e d u t l e s of those np loyaes wcire

1n:portant and oneroils. Xevsrtheless, it must be remcmhcre.3

t h a t h o s e m p l o y e s w e r e n o t o f f l c e r s of the Branch kith1.1

the meaning of paragraph 133 (1) ( f) of t h e A c t , nor were C h e b -

r e q u i r e d t o f a c e an e l e c t i o n a t least eve ry four y e a r s : s e e

paragraph 133 (1) (di;) of t he Ac t .

Tne ten enployees were dismissed p c r s u a n i io t5.c

p r o c e d d r c s described l n Rule 3 1 ( c ) , c o n % ; c n i e n t l y b u ' :

misleadingly c a l l e d a Fostz: v o t e .

- 10 -

l h e rsspondents, o t h e r t h a n t’le Uzlon, opp?s’~ng the orders

s o u g h t ( h e r e i n a f t e r c a l l & “ t h e r e s p o - d e n t s ” ) , E r e r e l y l n ?

upon a mot-cn a6opLed under r tu le 31(c) . If it can h

established t h a t a t the t1.1ne t h a t r e s o ~ u t l o n : m s ?.<Opt& z p ~ ? ~

p a r t o f Rule 31 w a s c o n t r a r y t o s u b - s c ? t ~ o n 1$0(1) of t h e

Act , the resolution h a s no v a l i d l t y and rhe d i smls sa l s w?rc

m v a l l d . Accordingly, it i s n e c e s s a r y EO determi-c whether

R u l e 31 ( c ) i s c o n t r a r y t o sub-secr lon 140 (1) of t5e Ac t . I:

determlniny t h e t i s s u e , n o t h i n g t c r n s on t h e f a c t h a t tl:e

m o t i o n was a s s e n t e d t o in F e b r u a r y 1 Q E 3 a n d t h a t t h ?

proceedlngs wcre heard in Februnry 1981.

M r . Tracey of c o u n s e l f 3 r t h e Union presented a

though t fu l and ca re fu l ly p repa re6 submiss ion thak R u l e 3 1 ( c ) ,

on i t s p r o p e r c o n s t r u c t l o n , was n o t c o n t r a r y t o sub-sectio.1

140(1) of the A c t . However, on t h a t c o n s t r u z t i o n Y I ~

d i s m i s s a l s r e s o l u t i o n would hsve been inva l ld on the ground

,.

Of non-compllance vnth t h e r e y u l r e m e n t s of t h e r u l e . “,C . >L

Trew of Oucen’s C o u n s e l f o r t h e a p p l l c a n c s , n o t surprisingly,

a d o p t e d t h e s u b m l s s i o n s of r i r . T r a c e y r e l a t i n g to C’I-.

c o n s t r u c t l o n o f R u l e 3 1 ( c ) . It becones n sces se ry , che reCc ;~ ,

a s a f l r s t p r o p e r c o n s t r u c t l o n s t e p , t o d e t e r m i n e , l n the scnse oLc “c?ec lJs” , ’ch.-.

of R u l e 3 1 ( c ) .

- 11 -

Branch Councll but , wenty vembers o ~ l y have a :-riz8rir v n t e

a t meet ings of C o u n c i l . T h e Granch Presl?.ent an3 n ine o'-her

members of Branch Council can form a quorum and on t h a t

m i n i m u n number, f l v e members , exc lud inq t he P res i<en t , bu t

w i t h i s c a s t l n g v o t e , c a n f o r m S m a j o r l t y t o a d b p t any

rrlotion. Sranch Council ineets a t least c h r e e t i m s a y c z r b u t

ex t r ao rd ina ry mee t inqs may 1 - 2 h e l d ; see R u l e 30. The R-a-ch

P r e s i d e n t i s a u t h o r i s e d t o c a l l an extraordinary r , leet lA-ig, as

1s any member of the Branch Execut ive au thor ized b y a

r e s o l u t l o n of the Branch Execut ive. A D d r t from those two

me thods , t he p rocesu rc fo r ca l l i ng an extraordinary 1leetir.q

i s cumbersome and depends upon e m a j o r i t y o f Counci 1 ~ v ~ i n b e r s ,

namely eleven rnanbers, approvmg zn ex t r ao rd lns ry mce t i r , g

b e f o r e t h e P r e s i d e n t i s r e q u i r e d t o c a l l t h z L m e t i n g .

Ru le 3 1 ( c ) p e r m i t s a slmpLer rnethoc! by whlc3 il

motlon may be a f f l rmed by members of Branch Council . Any t\;o

members may i n s t i t u t e t h e p r o c e d u r e s b u t the motion 5ecov-s z

r e s o l u t l o n o n l y when a m a - ~ o r i t y of Councll members - e l e v e n -

a f f i r m s Lhe n o t l o n . I n t h i s c o n t e x t , a n o n - a f f l r m a t ~ v c voLe

is t r e a t e d as a "na" v o t e . Under t h i s p r c c e d u r s , a safequarci

1s i n b u i l t . motlon, whereas a t a meetinrj a min3mum o f A t l e a s t e l even Counc i l mexber s :~~ust a f f l r m tl~e

f i ve mepber s , ! l i t 11

t h e c a s t l n g v o t e o f t h e C h a i r m a n , c a n a f f i r m a r o s o l v t i o n .

It i s Importan: t o n o t e t h a t r e l l + f f r o m this s i r l c t

requirement 1 s not provlc!wl for 111 Z u l c 31 ( c ) , evcn t h o L ? : -

I n t h i s c o n t e x t , lt becones necessa ry t@ c n n s l 3 e r

Rule 31 ( c ) . The opel?lng words, "For t he conven lence of

members of Brar?ch Counc j ' l " a r e , i n m y opinion, d e s c r i p t i v e

o n l y . The cons t rucc lon urged by Nr. Tracey a-d :!F. Tre.: t 3 a c

those words impose a d u t y on the Brench P res i i ?en t t o ccns i f l e r

whether any motion souq'nt t o be f iffir-ned i n accordance wi th

Ru le 31 (c ) i s f o r the convenience of ~ e m k r s , i s r e j e c t e r ! .

Such a c o n s t r u c t i o q x o u l d impose t oq g rea t a r e s t r i c t i o n on

t h e p r i v l l e g e procedures o f members o f B r a n c h C o u n c i l t o i n l t i a t e -&e

unde r Ru le 3 l ( c ) . I n I t s c o n t e x t , t h o s e words dre

d e s c r l p t i v e o n l y .

The e s s e n c e o f t h e suqrnj s s l o n made by Mr. Tracey

was t h a t t h e p r o c e d u r e p r e s c r l b e d b y R u l e 3 1 ( c ) was I n

s u b s t i t u t i o n f o r a m e e t i n g of th 'e Branch Ccunci l . and

a c c o r d l n g l y , Rule 3 1 ( c ) s h o u l d be conscrued in such a way a s

t o i n c o r p o r a t e p r o c e d u r e s a p p r o p r i a t e to a x e e t i n y . Th+t

gene ra l submiss ion i s not accep ted . The pllrpose ot Pule

3 1 ( c ) i s t o a v o i d the necessity of holdlnq a !::eetlnq and t h e

p r o c e d u r e p r e s c r l h e e s h o u l d n o t b e r e s t r l c t e 3 I n t5c w y

contended. Counsel conte:?dee that It was n c t ~ o s s i b l ? to

amalg-mate a s e r l e s of F r o p o s i t i o r s i n t h e none r-akion since

no amenc?n?nts could be I : ? O V C ~ TO thdz motion. T1-e an~.::qr to

- 1 3 -

t h a t conCe::Clon i s t h a t if a Ccuncll i ne~v ;x r cons ide red t:-+

~ O t ~ o l I t o 3 tilce, he could re?r ,? :n f ron grv ing 'nls asser,r- 7-11

w r i t i n g . A non-ans:Ter c o n s t i t u t e s a non-as sen t and t he recz rc

i s t o be t r e a t e d a s a negat ive vo te . Counse l COntePciCd t k a k

the motlon, having t c be I n w r i t l n q , s h o u l d b e s l q n e s 'ny t??e

mover and mm.bers of Branch t h e secon:'.fr t o enaS1.e i d e n t i f l c a t i o n of ch?!ii a s

Council . 'fihn r u l e d o e s not requLre

signatures, and s u c h a r e q u i r e v e n t LS n o t t o be impl l e4 . I Ie

cofi tended thac the motion shculd be s u : ' ~ l r u t t e d p e r s o n a l l y t o

t h e P r e s l d e n t P r e s i d e n t t o s a t l s f y h i x s e l f b y t h e s e c o n d e r a ~ mover so a s d t o e n s j l e t h e

th<\t t h e y ~ e z e members of Braqc?.

C o u r ? c l l . Agazn. t h e rule does n o t r e q u i r e t l n s . I n t h e r>-lle

t h e word "submit" is u s e d l n t h e s e n s e of b r i n q i n g t o 13e

n o t i c e of t h e P r e s l d e n t o r t h e members o f Counc i l . '31 e

Branch Secre ta ry submi ts a copy of the motion t o each ne~nbel

of the on members of Branch Counc i l . The c o n t e n t i o n p l a c e s t o o d i f f i c u l t a burden

Council who r e s i d e a l o n g d l s t a n c e ?FOP

t h e P r e s l d e n t ' s n o r m a l p l a c e of work or residence. : ! T e

e s s e n t z a l r e q u i r e m e n t 1% t ha t the m3tio:l m u s t be brcugj-.t t o

the n o t i c e o f t h e P r e s i d e n t who i s required t o c?o cer+-Ej.n

t h i n g s t h e r e a f t e r . I t can Le b r o d c h t o t h e n o t l c e of t h e

P r e s l d e n t b y p o s t or by t?le..pl?one or b y p e r s o n a l d e l i v e r y .

I t 1 s l n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t m Rule 3 1 ( d ) t h e .;#?rei

" supply" 1 s use6 In s t ead of t h e word "su;;xlt". The esssnrrr31-

f e a t u r e of the p rocedure i s t h e t the motion m u s c be suppc r t z?

by two members of C i > u : , c l l , :t r , lus t b e i n i:ritln5 a:?d l < -: 5'-

135 s u b n i t t 5 d s v e n t u s l l y t o e2i.h ?cnbcr of C o d t x i l . Counc.e!

- 14 -

c o n t e n i e d f u r t h e r t h a t h e s u S ~ j s s ~ o n of C h e motlon hy tl-e

S e c r e t a r v CO each member of C ~ u n c i l . ha? to be s jmul taneous or

n e a r l y s i ~ u l t a n e o u s so as t o a l l o w d l s c u s s l o n 5 y aeT;;bers

b e f o r e v o r i n g a n d b e f o r e r h e m a j u r ~ t - y of a s s ? n t s i n L I , i n 5

a r e o b t a i n e d . The r u l e d c e s n o t r e G u i r e t h l s t o be ~ G I I E , b u t

2 i sc r lmina to ry submiss ion of m o t i o n s t o d i f f e r e n t m ? n b e r s mzy

i n d l c a t e a Lack of b o n a f i d e s by t h e S e c r e t a r y , r e s u l t i n g m

non-compliance w l t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e r u l c . %n

p a r t l c u l a r , It 1s n o t e d t h a t -che r u l e i s n o t based uynrl the

assumption t h a t members of Counci l m u s t have time t o d ~ s c ~ i s s

t h e m o t l o n . The motion becomes a r * s o l u t i o n upon a majorl’ky

o f t h e membsrs g i v i n g t h e i r a s s e n t l n w r i t l n g . To t h l s

e x t e n t t h e a p p l l c a t i o n o f the r u l e 1 s se l f - execu t ing . Ze fo rG

the motlon w r l t i n g becorres a r e s o l u t i o n a t l e a s t e l e v e n a s s e n t s i n

n u s t have been g iven and t he Sec re t a ry m u s t know of

t h a t f a c t . Once t h a t f a c t h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e m o t i o n

becomes a r e so lu t ion and can be acted upon.

The requl rements of Rule ? l ( c ) a r e m a n d a t o r y , b u t

t h e r u l e m u s t be cons t rued i n a p r a c t i c a l way. There i s rlo

r o o a f o r t h e i r n p l l c a t l o n o f obligations n o t c c n t a i n e d ir! the

r u l e . On i t s f a c e , t h e r u l e 1 s n o t c o p t r a r y to s.l-?O( l) of

the A c t . P r o v l s l o n s of a s i m i l a r n a t u r e a p p e a r in the r u l e s

o f many c rgan iza t lons i nc lud ing t he Un icn and okhe r b razches

. - 15 -

of the Unlon. I n practice, a ru12 of t i : i c :12Lu:2 1 s

e s s e n t l a l . In t h e p r e s e n t c z s e t h e r 2 z l i s s u e a r i s1r.q is

whefner the r e q u r e m e n t s o f t h e r u l e h a v e bssn satisfied.

Counse l f c r t h e a p p l i c a n t s , i n r e a l r t y , C id n o t

dispute t h e v a l i d i t y o f RaLe 3 1 ( c ) . H I S v a i n conc*rr! V'BS

d l r e c t e d t o s i h e t h s r t h e r e h a d hesn 5 non-compllcnce .,,it11 ~ t s

requirements. A s a l as t r e s o r t , he r e l i e d upon t h e ch>.l.lc:?~:c

t o the v a l l d i t y o f R u l e 3 1 ( c ) o n l y lf the c o n s t r u c r i o n

c o n t e n d e d f o r t h e b y U n i o n 'was n o t a c c c p t c d . T h a t

c o n s t r u c t i o n i s r c ~ e c t c d .

The e v l d e n c e p r e s e n t e d t o t h e Court i s csntazncc! j-2

a number o f a f f i d a v l t s , t o g e t h e r w i t h es?!ibits ther?tO, Orcl

ev idence g iven by the deponcnts of 50x8 of t h e a E f i d a v i L s cnci

some o t h e r exhibits. The a f f l d a v i t by t h s ? a p p l i c a n t E o u r k e ,

b e l n q t h e a f f i d a v i t on w?1ich t h e r u l e n i s l was g r a n t e d , a p a r t

from c o n t a l n i n g f o r m a l m a t t e r s , c o n t a i ? e d s u C f i c i e n c n a t e r l a l

t o w a r r a n t h e g r a n t i n g of t h e r u l e n i s l and in khat e.:2nt

r e q u i r e d m a t e r l a l t o b e p r o v i d c d b y t h s r e s p o n d c n r s . Tli 5

was done . Mr. Bourlce w a s n o t c r o s s - e x a m i n e d cp. h i s

a f f i d a v l t . The f a c t s u r r o u n d i n g the d i s m s s a l o f t h e t c n

employees 1 s con ta lned 1'1 a f f i s a v i t s swor:l by twel.ve of

r e s p o n d e n t s , n a m e l y M a p s t o r . e , L l n n a n e , C 2 1 1 aghzl l , Wooci,~,

X o r r i s , .-drew, Ford, Cra\:ford, V i i l l l a : ~ ~ , O ' ? r i e n , C r - o : ; s c r t

and	Pa rke .
The cross-exarnlnecl, f i r s t n i ! ~ e of r h o s e d p o n e n t s " e r e

Yapstsne, tli? Pr-.!;l - icnt , 511-3 Cal'.zG:;?n, '.:.c

- 16 -

The Novenber 1 9 8 2 e l e c t i o n s '+:ere h c l r l i n the

c o n t e x t o f a f i e r c e l y f o u g h t calnpalgn. A g r o u p c:

c a n d i d a t e s , including a number o€ t h e r e s p o n d e n t s , d i 2 nc:

h o l d o f f l c e c a n d l d a t e s , a t the t i m e o E t h e election. A group of

i n c l u d i n g a m a j o r l t y o f the r e s p s n d e n t s , formed a

t i c k e t i n t h e c o n d u c t of t h e l e c t i o n . This group Cal led

l t s e l f t he "Be t t e r Dea l " t eam and campa igned on 2 programme

of	reform
within and Woods were members of t h a t team the Branch. Mapstone, Linnane, Cal lagl izr ,

and !:ere e l e c t e d t o t h e

o f f l c e s of P r e s i d e n t , V i c e - p r e s i d e n t , S e c r e t a r y a!-:?

A s s i s t a n t - S e c r e t a r y respectively. They t h u s b e c a v e ',:?e

o f f i c e r s o f Deal" team had a c l e a r t h e B r a n c h . P o l l o x w i n g t h e l e c t i o n , the "Bsttcr

i n a j o r l t y of members an6 s u p p o r t e r s cr,

of t'ne tha t t h e new Counci l . Following t h e l e c t i o : , It was ma6e c l e a r

Council proposed t o d l s m i s s vost, lf no'. a l l , of

the employees of the Branch . Some o f t h o s e em2loyees b s r 3

b e e n u n s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e s I n t h e e l e c t i o n and ',rt?re oppoce-'

t o t h e " R c t t e r Ceal" team. I f i n d th?.,t t ? lose persons vere

d:s:>;lssed, n o t because t hey bz:l k?eq c;ln,hja,tes, bu:: .:>e~--:,.:.; =

- 17 -

of a s t r u c t c r e s . d c s i r e by t h e " B e t t e r Deal"

T n t "Bet te r Ceal" team was a reforx!.nq grcl..-, ;.!l?

i n t h e i r wanted t3 sweep out t h e z e a l f o l l o f r l n g t h e i r S U C C ~ S S a t thc? election, they

p a s t a n < r e s t e u c t d r e ths Cranch ';S

provide what they considered a more e f f i c l e l l t end h e t t e r

s e r v i c e t o members o f the Branch. To f a c i l i C a t e t h i s t h e y

wanted t o remove former mpl-oyess they tholqht rnlqkt be

h o s t i l e t o them and who t h e y f e l t h e y c o u l d not t r u s k t o

implement the new processes . UnsuccessEul c=ndidace5 et. t h e

e l e c t i o n commenced p roceed ings i n t he Fede ra l Cour t s5sk inq

a n e l e c t l o n j - n q u l r y i n t o the B r a n c h e l e c t i o z s . I n t h o s 2

p roceed ings , unde r t ak ings were g iven by scxe of t h e pre;+!?:-.

r e sponden t s t ha t no employee would be d ismissed un t l l . 'cl?,?

i n q u l r y was completed. On Thursday, 10 February l P A 3 t h ?

i n q u i r y was d i scon t lnued and t he r e sponden t s who had glven

t h e u n d e r t a k l n g were r e l e a s e d f r o m t h e i r u n d s r t z k i n g .

Thereupon some embers o f C o u n c i l , a n < i n p a r t ~ . c u l a r the

o f f l c e r s , a c t e d w l t h w h a t c a n be descr lbed as unseemly has te

to d l s rn l s s t he t employees . n I u s e t?le phrase "unsceniy

haste" ~ n t e n t i o n a l l y , r l e s p l r e a n a t t e m p t CO ~ u s t l f y t h e spec,!

with w h i c h t h e d i s m l s s a l s 1:cre e f f e c t e d , o n t h e bt,s15 t%+.

the d i smissa ls p revented uncer ta j . ! l ty and a t temptea t o h r i n ?

t o a n 2nd a s l t u a t i o n which wa5 causlng problems ~n che

a d m i n i s t r a t l o n of t h e a f f e l r s of the Eranch . ?r0-~-1<cd t l i?

p roccdures were ca r r i ed uut i n acco rdance wit3 the r .~: .es ,

u n s e e m l y h a s t e , i n ~ t s e l f , c?ocs n o t l n v a l 1 d ; t : L. :~c:

- 18 -

disnlssa1.s. I f l n d th;t t'r:e ~?:OCCL!LI~-CS c!arriet5 r ju t I f e r ? , i l l

f a c t , p l a n n e d a n d c a r r l e d out b y t h e f o u r o f f l c e r s of the

Branch.

I do not f lnr ' , I t n e c e s s a r y ' t o r e f e r l : ~ d e t a i l t o

t h e f a c t s ev ldence . d e p o s e d t o in tile a f f i d e v i t s 2nd i n t h e o r a l

The r e l e v a n t f a c C s as found can be s ta ted . On

ThuLsday, l G February 1383, Noods t o l d C a l l a g h a n t h a t he l-~iad

proposed a !notion w:Iich had b e e n seconded by L ~ n n a n e r e l a t i n ~

t o the d l s m i s s z l of the ten employees and tha t h2 v a n t e d t h e

motion t o b e s u b m i t t e d t o members of Counci l p i r suant to the

p r o v l s i o n s of Rdle 31(c). At t h z t ti.me Mapstone, who s1.d

h i s o f f l c e a s P r e s i d e n t i n a n h o n o r a r y c a p a c i t y , w a s l n

n o r t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d i n t h e c o u r s e of h i s normal employrent I

Callaghan rang him and told him of the moticn and cf t h e

r e q u e s t . L a t e r t h z t e v e n i l ? g M a p s t o n e r e t u r n e d t o B r l s b n e

and atten6ecl a t t h e o f f i c e s of the Branch . On h l s r e t u r n t o

Brisbane, t'apstone was handed a docune3t c o n t a i n i n g the

motion. The c o n t e n t s o f t h a t d o c u m e n t a r e se t o u t :

"TO : BRANCH PRES J DENT

FROM :	ASSISTAKT E m S C E SItCIlETARV
DATE :	FEBRUARY 10 19E3

The fo l lowinc formal mot ion i s submlttec! t o

you l n Eccordance wlch Eranch S u l c 31 ( c ) : -

- 19 -

'Thz t tne a>pointlrlent of r;;l.-?.d L c w i s , ?atrj.ci<

Brophy , Cordon F!c?herson, John Fuc L f o r a find

P a u l C - r l f f i t h s as Braxck Or?" : l i se rs >e

t e r m i n a t e d f o r t h w i t h .

And t h a t t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f C-eoff P u r c e l l anci

Vlnce EjcKenna as S e c r e t a r p j o r c a n i s ~ r s be

t e rmmated fo r t i iw l th .

And 'char the aL>pointmsnt of Tec? Rov-aisl:; 62-3

G r a h a m T r e a c e y a s I n d u s t r i a l O f f i c e r s be

t e r m m a t e d f o r t h m t h .

And t h a c t h e a p p o l n t m e n t 'of J o h ? Fox Se

t e r m i n a t e d f o r t h w i t h .

SECONCZD :	D .	L1	X NANE
(S igned)

........ ........ ......

C. WOODS"

That document seconder . vas siqned by the mcvcr , b u t r.ct by t h e

AS s a l d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e a b s e n c e of the SlgIlZtUre

of Linnane does n o t a f f e c t t h e v d i d l c y o f rhe m D t i o n . The

motion w a s , i n f a c t , moved and seconded a s claimcd 2nd as

appears from the t yped inscription. Thereaf t -er , ?kp'tone

handed t o C a l l a g h a n , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e S r a r c h , a docL.r-e!lt

m the following form:

"TO :	BPANCH SECKETX?'I
FROM :	BRANCH PRESIDEXT
DATE :	FEBRUAXY 10 1983

In accordance with Branch Zule 31 ( c ) , che

fo l lowmg	formal	mot ion	i s	h e r e b y	s u h n t t e - l
t o you:-

MOVYD : c. WOODS

Brophy, Gorc?311 NcPlierson, Jniln ::uclfora

Paul G r l f i l i ! ; s B r a n c h a s Or3i1:11sers

t e r m n a t e d f o r r h w l t h .

And t h a t Vlnce t!cI<enna t h e a p p o i n t m c n t o f G e o f f P u r c e l l

a s S e c r o t a r y / O r g a n i s e r s

t e r m i n a t e d f o r t h w i t h .

-4nd t h a t t h e a p ? o i n t m e n t of Tcci l<owa1 Ski

Grahsm Treacey as I n d u s t r i a l O f f i c e r s b e

terminated fortht\rl th.

And t h a t terminated for thwi. th . ' t h e a p p o i n r n e n t of 2ohn Fox Lc

SCCOSDED : D. LIXNANE

(Signed )

D. MAPSTOKE"	........ ........ ......
Ba l lo t pape r s had been p repa red . Each wcls i n an

envelope and each envelope was acldresscd t o a mepbsr of

Sranch Counci l . The b a l l o t G a p e r s were u:iCer t h e 1etterhsa.l

of the Branch and indicated t h a t t h e y h a d b e e n t y p c d z t t h e

d i r e c t i o n cf	Linnane ,	the	Vlce-Pres ident .	Each	cont-l ined	r h e
following:

DL: DK

February l0 1983.

TO : ALL E R W C H COUKZILL0P.S AS &!?D:?,YSSZ? -

- 2 1 -

And ' i h n t t h e c p p o i n t ~ e n t of Geoff Plurcell and

V i n c e i'IcKenna a s ~ e c r e t a r y / C r g a n i s e r s be

t e r m m a t e d f o r t h w i t h .

And t h a r ; t h e z p p o m t a e n t c f Ted Kowalski and

G r a h a m T r e a c e y a r I n d l l s t r i a l O f f ~ . c c r c h e

t e r m i n a t e d f o r t h w l t h .

And t h a t t e r m l n a t e d f o r t h x i t h . t h e a p p o i n t : l e n t o f J o h n Fox Se

'

SECOXDED : D . L1NN;iNE

Are you i n f z v o u r of the a5ove motion?

YES NO

- -

Yours f a : th fu l ly ,

(S igned)

BERNADETTE CALLAGEAN

BEU&iCII SECRETARY.

NOTE: P l e a s e r e t u r n t h i s vo te 12 t h e sta.npec2

a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e ? r o v l d e d , t o t h e

Branch Secre ta ry by r e t u r n ma i l . "

There were name of a member of Sranch twenty-one ba l lo t papers azc? each ccn ta l -ed r h o

Councl l . Sane of the ba, l loc

papers had the words , "Thzs ac t ion t c he t aken in accordzL-cii

with Rule r e f e r r e d 3 2 " m s e r t e d a s p a r t of t h s paraqra;hl? <:r .~ch

J t o h n For. Tha t r e f e rence was t o t h e r u l e

a u t h o r i z m y t h e i3rnnch Counc1.1 t o dlsxiss e~nployc'es. I t :;;,S

d e s c r i p t l v e o n l y a n d o e s not go t o r:Te subs t ance o f Che

motlon. I f i n d that t h e words are n o t capab1.e or c a ~ i s i n g any

- 2 2 -

c o n f u s 1011. They do n o e c o n s t l t u t e a s u : > s t . i n ~ ~ a ?

non-conpliar?ce with .<he r equ l r emcc t s of Rule 31(c). Thcsy c 7 0

n o t i n v a l i d a t e t h e b a l l o t .

A f t e r r c c e l v i n g t h e n o t i c e i r a n Xapstcne, Cal1an i . a~

handed h l m h i s b a l l o t p a p e r o n h h 1 c h i.1apstor.e rccol-dc-7 llls

a s s e n t o t h e m o t i o n a n d p l a c e d h i s s i g n a t u r e . H e re tGrne6

t h a r ba l lo t pape r t o Ca l l aghan . Ar rangeven t s “;ere made C O

h a n d - d e l l v e r t h e ba l lo t papers on Fr iday , 11 F e b r u a r y t o

t h o s e members of Counci l VihO worked cr r e s i d e ? ~n Er i sbane

and l n t h e Rockhampton a r o a , a n d t o p o s t t h e b a l l o t p a p r s tg

t h e o t h e r t o Rockhamyton members of Council . Mapstone, who w a s t r a v e l l i n c i

on the morning of F r i d a y , 11 F e b r u a r y i n tF12

cour se of his enployment , tool ; the b a l l o t p a u e r s a d d r c s s c d t o

Bianchi and t o Appleby to hand-de l ive r t hem. He took t r i r ’ . ,

him a l s o a n o t l c e of t e r m m a t i o n of employment d i r e c t e d ’LO

McKenna, a S e c r e t a r y / O r g a n i s e r R t h f o r c k h a m p t o n

sub-Branch. On t h e e v e n l n g o f 10 February 1 3 8 3 , b s l l o t

papers were posted t o the appl lc? .nt Zourke a t Toowooinbz, t o

L inske t a t Dalby and t o Tooiey a t Gyvpie. On Friday, il

February the envelopes conta ln1r .g t’?e ballot p l p e r s t-ere

d e l l v e r e d t o a number of menbers of Councl l . Paps tone

d e l i v e r e d t h e b a l l o t p a p e r s t o B l a n c h i a n d A ? p l e b y who eacl:

a s s e n t e d -Go t h e m o t i o n , s i g n e d t h e b a l l o t s al?d r e t u r n e 2 th:-.

t o Mapstone. In Brisbane ner.bers of the Counc l l , rnzln.1.y l n

p a i r s , d e l i v e r e d e n v e l o p e s c o n t z i n i n g b c l i o t s t o a nun: ,?c 0 5

memSers oL Co:mcll who, a p e r t f r m 1 Coss;;rt, 3ssen:ecl I:C. 7:~e

- 2 3 -

x o t l o n , s l s n e e t h ? k a l l c t p a p r s an2 returner1 t5m1 t o Ckcse

who had de l ive red t hem. The responc,en'. Eour4e wts nc , t at

work t h a t d a y b u t b y t e l e p h o n e a r r a n g e d t h a t t'ne > a l l o t :>c

d e i i v s r e d LO him o n t h e folio:fil-:g ;~iomiay. This !.;as C ~ G X E .

Hr. f l u l l e r was on l e a v e 2nd thcs h l s 5allot paper cou l3 n c r

be delivered t o :>m. T3e passaqe of t ime made it 1mposslSle

t o h a n d - d e l i v e r t h e b a l l o t p a p e r s t o Ross and FaT."kes. G:? L~IP

everling of Fr ldny , 11 F e b r u a r y t h e h a l l o t paFers i:ere pos t ed

t o each of t h o s e t h r e e p e r s o n s .

w r l t i n g had bee'n receivecl, eleven hy Cal laghan an6 two by

Mapstone. She to ld Maps tone rh i s , a n d t h e r e a f t e r Mapstone

d e l i v e r e d t h e notzce of termination of emplolmcnt t o McKen!?a.

The n o t i c e , w r i t t e n u n d e r the i e t c e r h e z d o f t h e B r a n c h a c d

i n d l c a t i n g t h a t it had been i f r i t t e n a t t h e d i r e c L i o n of

Linnane, was as fo l lows :

"February 11 1983. DL : DI<

Mr. V. McKenna,

Federa ted CLerks Union of A u s t . ,

P . O . BOX 1 4 7 ,

ROCKHAWTON. 4115. 4700

Dear V i n c e ,

- 24 -

On the same day no t i ces i n simi1.a: form vizre Given t o anot’ier

s l x of the t e n d ismissed eFployees vho were ?it the Branch

o f f i c e . On t h e same d a y n o t l c e s i n s i m i l z r form w r e q j v e n

t o a n o t h e r two of the t e n d l s v i s s e d e m p l c y e e s , w h i l e t h e

ten th d i smissed employee was t o l d o f h i s c i i s m i s s a l a n ? t h e

f o r m a l n o t i c e was g l v e n t o h ~ m subsequeq t ly . Af t e r 1 1

February 1983, a s s e n t s i n w r i t l n q w e r e r e c e l q e d f r o m t - m

other members o f C o u n c i l , wh i l e one non-assent was Yeceive5.

E a l l o t p a p e r s w e r e n o t r e t d r n e d ?JY t h e a p n l i c a n t Bourke or hy

Ross, Fawkes, Linsket o r Tooley. Thus, i n f a c t there uere

s i x “ n o “ v o t e s o p p o s e d a f i f t e e n t o “ y e s “ v o t e s . The

ba l lo t s which were pos ted were no t rece lved by the Branch

C o u n c i l l o r s c o n c e r n e d u n t i l a f t e r a c t i o n had been taken on

t h e r e s o i u t i o n . s u g s e s t s I n some c a s e s t h e f r a n k l n g c n t h e v e l o 9 e s

t h a t t h e l e t t e r s t o the a p p l i c a n t Sour’ce an2 t o

Linsket and Tooley vere no t pos t ed u n t i l 11 February 1903.

I t i s no ted t ha t Maps tone ca s t a v o t e . A t meet izgs

of Eranch Ccuncil , XVltlpstone, 2 s P r e s i d e n t , 1 s n o t e n t i t l e d k.r?

a pr ln la ry f a c t - s vo te . The vo te vas no t t aken 24- a neeti2cJ. O n the

o f t h i s c a s e I do not need 1:c c?eci?e v:hethsr c’-,?

app lxcan t i s e n t i t l e d to casL i: pri-ary v ,>te U*-!<,:!- t ! l r .

- 2 5 -

F l n a l l y , It should he n o t e d t h a t i n a d < l t i o t , t o e.

week ' s pay in lieu o f n o t i c e , ezch of t h e .-?i.srrissd cr1p13yoo5

recei-;e" t h e m z x l m u l amount of ? x n e f i t x.7hich C O U ~ C : be p31d

under t he supe rannua t lon fund cond i t l cns ap~ ; l l cak l e to tie:'.

Those psyaen 'cs employee who rangeci had been empl.oycd f rom $26,062 x.lith r e s p e c t t o 2r

fo r t e n y e a r s , CO a Ar.!.nmdr 0:

$1,566 with r e spec t t o an employe2 v?10 hac1 been ?~nployec? for

seven months. An employee who had been cm_nloyr< f o r J L ! S ~

over four teen years rece lvec? paynxent o f $25,006.

- 26 -

l

Counse l fo r t h e a p p l i c a n t s d i p u c c c ? t h o s e

c o n t e n t i o n s . They con tended t ha t he Z ranch Counc i l d i d no.;

h a v e a n p a r t i c u l a r a b s o l u t e r i g h t t o d i s m 1 . s ~ the empl oq'ees, and i n

t h a t t h e e m p l o y e e s were e n t l t l e d t o b e g l v e n

n o t l c e of t h e r e a s o n f o r p r o p o s e d d l s m l s s a l a n d v c r c e n t l t l e 2

t o be h e a r 6 i n t h e l r d e f e n c s b e f o r e b o l n g $ i s m ? Ejse?. Th-y

contended tha t each employee was t h u s e n t i i l e d t o n z t z r a l

j u s t i c e ' a n d t h a t t h l s r i g h t a a r o s e u p o n t h e p rope r

c o n s t r u c t l o n of t h e rules , t h e n a t u r e and importance of t h e

du t l e s pe r fo rmed by t he mp loyees , t he l r ~ne r rbe r s i~ ip 05 t h e

Union, and a s u b s e q u e n t p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e %ranch n-.wsp;;p2r

of t h e c i r z u m s t a n c e s o f and t h e g r 3 d n d s f o r t h e i r d i ~ , l u s s ~ l .

Thls last p o i n t 1 s based upon na ter ia l . \ ;h lch ->cared ;n th?

B r a n c h n e w s l e t t e r s u b s e q u e n t t o t 3 e d~ smissa1.s. ?'hat .nF.::erlal

c a n n o t a f f e c t t h e v a l l d l t y of t h e d l s n i s s a l s , except pcsslS1y

w i t h r e s p e c t	t o the	i s s u e	o f	bona	f l d e s	v h l c h	1 s	consldere-!
l a t e r .

- 27 -

S e c o n d l y , c o d n s c l c o n t e n d e d t h a t a m o t l o n f o r

dismissal evployecs of should no t be aiiopted under t h e

procedures prescribed ic Ru le 31 (c ) s ince t hose p rocedL7res

w e r e i n a p t ~ h e r o Lhe grounds of d i s x i s s a l w e i e mi;co?:ducL.

This cor . ten t ion 1 s r e 2 e c t e d . The d i s n i s s a l s w e r e P O C be?ause

of mlsconduct	and	t h u s	t h i s	c o n t e n t l o n	is based	upan	a	f a l s e
premise.

Thirdly, counsel. c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h e p r o c e d u r e s

p r e s c r i b e d b y Rule 31 ( c ) had nor been follownd, and I n

p a r t l c u l a r t h a t t h e r e was no motlon moved and secondrd; tP.25

t he mo t ion was n o t s u b n l t t e d CO a l l mcr?bers of Councl l : t k 3 t

the motion was n o t I d e n t i c a l l n a l l c a s p s ( t h l s yartic111.a:-

con ten t lo l l 5 6 s S e e n r e j e c t e d e a r l i e r l!> t h e s e r e z s o n s ) : t! la'-

the mot ion was submit ted by drverse procedures and by persons

a t d i v e r s e t u n e s , and i n p a r t l c l ! l a r t h e CirCLlmStX?CeS thaC

the submlss ion of t h e motlons had been nnde i n 1nan.y cases Sy

two m e m b e r s , t h e r e b y u n f a i r l y i n t e r c e r l n g w i t h the rLrr3edo:i 3 5

choice by the person t o whom the mot ion was d e l i v e r e d ; t h a t

t h e v o t e v a s t a k e n a f t e r t h e d i s ! i i s s a l s h x ? been e f f e c t e d ,

and I n p a r t l c u l a r t h e d i s n i s s a l s h a d beer? e:fecteri ho fo re

Mapstone had returned f r o n Rockhampton with. t h e a s s e c t s :I>

w r i t i n q OF t h e two members of Cour.cll whlch had been hande?

to film: and t h z t no vo tc caul? b e t a k e n u n t 1 1 a l l memk:rs of

Council had had a r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n l t y to vote by , %t

l e a s t , r e c e l v l n g t h e b a l l o t pzper . These l a s t v o mat.rc:-s

have Leen re je?czd earl-ler ~q t h c s e r s?sons . W e n FI?S:I.IIZG

- 28 -

all b a l l o t p a p e r s h a d becn pocted a t t h e o?? time, ? + e r e i s

no c e r t a i n t y t h a t , h a v l n g r e g a r d t o t h e d l s t z n c e s l!~vcli~-e?,

a l l b a l l o t s a s s e n i s i n w r i t i n q h a d b e e n o b ’ i a l n e d . wocld have been recelved befor ,? a m s l o r i t y o f

F o u r t h l y , c o u n s e l c o n t e n d e d t h a t s o m e o f t h e

respocdents , and i n p a r t i c u l a r K a p s t o n e , L i n n a n e , C.lll;lqllar.,

Woods and Crawford (being the f o u r o f f i c e r s of the Eranch

t h e p e r s o n s who h a d a s s i s t e d in t h e < e l l v e r y oE t h e b a l l o t s ) ,

had no t ac t ed bone f lde .

F i f t h l y , c o u n s e l c o n t e n d E d t h a t R u l e 3 1 ( c ) was

c o n t r a r y t o s u b - s e c t i o n 140 (1) o f t h e A c t i f it was t o be

c o n s t r u e d i n t h e way winch the Cour t has construed i t .

Counsel for t h e Unlon SuFporred t h l s c o n t e n t i o n .

Despite the s t ror ig and Eble argunen-cs of c o u n s e l ,

t h e C o u r t lmpor t f l n d s t h a t a dismissal . un.ler R - l e 3 % does no t

t he r u l e s o f n a t u r a l j u s t i c e b e f o r e t h e C o u n c i l i s

a b l e , v a l l d l y , t o dismiss an em2loyee. I t has been sa le

e a r l l e r i n t h e s e r e a s o n s t h a t t h e e m p l o y e e s \:Lrc n o t e l e c t e d

o f f i c e r s and t h u s g iven no p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t dls:n;.ssal Cron

o f f l c e b y t h e p r o v l s i o n s o f the A c t . T h e i r d o t i e s mny have

been i npor t an t and one rous , b u t t h z t i s n o t s u f f i z i e n t o

I m p o r t t h e r u l e s o f n a t u r a l ~ u s t l c e . T h l s 1 s a case whore

t h e normal Cerms o f a c o n t r a c t o f employme!:? ar;31y. It. i s

no t necessa ry t o de tc rmlne w h ~ I n l?:< 1s the actui : l c?nl3y?r

- 29 -

of the evp1o:;ces. The Granci Ccuncll , uIi,?ei- the r u l e s , \ z s

powers of manage:uent l n c l u e l n c the pob-er of 6lsmlsc,al sf

enployees . Thcsc F’I)wers can he e x c r c i s c d \ n k h re5Fect t o

persons \/ho have hean employee pursuitnt t o 6 e c i s l n n 6 te’e-cn

the Branch t o a l l employers, Counc~ 1. The pader of ,2lsmls.;al i s a po:rler co-ron

a power v h l c h , i n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , i s t o

be exerc ised by the Branch Councl l . I n Rule 3 2 t h e \.;srcl

"office" i s t o b e r e n d as “ p c s ~ i i o n “ . “l L h e f z c t Khat Rulcs -?-G

and 4 7 make r e f e r e r . c e t o two s p e c i f i c p o s i t i o n s n o t b e i n 9

o f f i c e s w l t h i n t h e m e a n l n g o f t h e A c t , does not c c n f e r \i)>o:l

persons occugying those p o s i t i o n s ( z h e t h e r those pers0r.s Se

rnemb2rs o f t h e Union o r not) an e t i t1emenL natu;-al to

l u s t i c e b e f o r e b e i n g d i s m i s s e d i r o m t h e l r positions unc:er

R u l e 3 2 . This i s n o t a c a s e where t h e i3ranc5 Executive has

t a k e n a c t l o n i n c l r cums tances 5;here che employee has a r l g h t

of a p p e a l t o h c B r a n c h C o u n c l l . The appea l p rocedures

r e f e r r e d EO l n X u l e 3 2 a r e n o t sufficient t o lmply a

r e q u i r e n e n t for n a t u r a l lus t ice b e f o r e a djsmissal c Jn he

made IJY the Branch Councl l . There 1s no th ing I n t h e r u l e s

g e n e r a l l y wh1ch 1nport.s such a r equ i r emen t . The R I - z ~ - I C ~

C o u n c i l h a d n o t t r i e d t o c o n c e a l I ts in t en t io ; ! ts c i i sn13zs

enployees . Indeed , much of the lect lon carcpaiqn by nemhzrs

of the of persons “Bet te r Deal” t eam sugqesKed there c o u l d be d l sn issz l -S

employed i n thc Rrarlch. The r e a s c n s rsr disn’175aj.

a r e I r r e l e v a n t misconduct f o r p r e s e n t p u r p o s e s . T h e r z wzc no char7t‘ of

made, nor was it n f c e s s a r y thac t k e r c bs a ch? r$s

of micco~:dcct . Ilniier- the r u l , - . s cf rh2 Yra?ch R C 1-eaaon nc,-.::

- 3 0 -

b e g l v e n f o r d l s n i s s a l . T h e Court i s not colrerct?m-; c~

c o c s l d c r t h e n e r l t s o f che d i s r n s s a l . T i ? t i s a m a t t ? i 05

d l s c r e t l o n t o be e x e r c l s e d Sq' che Branch Co;ncll and t h e

Cour t should no t , and does no t , express o u i n i c n s on m a t t 2 r s

Of	d l s c r e t i o n	o f	t h a t	k i n d .	The	f l r s t	< r o u p	c)f	content. ions
i s	r e l e c t e d .

The t h i r d g r o u p of c o n t e n t i o n s r a l s e s t h c i s s u e of

w h e t h e r t h e p r o c e d u r e s p r e s c r l b e d by Rule 3 1 ( c ) \.;ere

f o l l o w e d . > h n y o f t h e r a t t e r s r e l i e d upon i n suppor t o f

t h o s e c o n t e n t l o n s h a v e b e e n c o n s l d e r e 3 e e r l l e r i n Chcse

r easons . R u l e 3 1 ( c ) p r e s c r l S T s p r o c c d u r e s t o b e follos..?r3.

T h o s e p r o c e d u r e s a r e n o t o b e a p p l i f . 2 a s i f t h e y w e r e the

equ lva len t o f a m e e t i n c . I n f a c t t h e procedures a r e the v,zr>-

a n t l t h e s i s o f a meet1r.g belng conducted. A m a l o r l t y oi

members of the B r a n c h C o u n c i l h a d g l g e n t h e l r a s s e n t i n

w r l t l n g t o t h e m o t i o n a n d C a l l ~ g h a n :;ne\' o f t h e e x l s t e n c c of

a m a ~ o r l t y of a s s e n t s . The motion thus becarre a resolut:on

and was a c t e d upon. No p e r s o n t o who3 a h 1 l o t paner wzs

de l ive red by hand has c la imed ';hat any pe r son , o r t he pe;sc'~

who delivered t h e b a l l o t p a p e r , h a d a t t c m n t c d to i n f l Iue1;ce

h m t o a s s e n t t o t h e motion. On t h e f a c r s found In th i s case

the C o u r t h o l d s t h a t t h e p r o c e e u r e s p r e s c r l b e d by Ru lc 3 1 ( c l

were fo l lov .ed and tha t there was no non-co.-pliancz ,\11th t l 'os -

r equ i r emen t s . The t h l r t i group of c c n t e n t l o n s i s r e j t - c t e? .

- 31 -

The iou r th g roup of cynteci- ions j: based upon -;he

p r i n c i p l e t h a t 111 exe rc l s lnq powers cr-.nferr,s!c! by t h e r u l e s ,

o f f l c e r s a r e r e q u l r e d t o n c t b a n a f i d e fm2r t he pu rpose fcr

which those por:ers were c o n f e r r e d ; see f a r *>:ample Allsn v.

Townsezd (l077j 31 F . L . R . 431 per Evat t and Yor throp JJ. a t

pp.483-9. In the p r e s e n t c a s e n o n e o i t h e e v i d e n c e S L ~ ~ ~ X , L . ~ S

t h e c o l l t e n t l o n p r l n c l p l e . t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n a b r e a c h of '::12~

The f o u r t h g r c u p of c o n t e n t l o n s 1 s r e ~ e c t e - l .

Under t h e f i f t h c o n t e n t i o n t h e C o u r t eoes not

c o n s i u e r it n e c e s s a r y t o r e s t a t e the well1:no;rm p r l n c i p ! 3 5

applicable I n d e c l d i n g i s s u e s a r i s i n g w h e r e It is a l l e q e d h

r u l e c o n t r a v e n e s p r a g r a p h 140 (l) ( c ) of t h e A c t . I t i s

s u f f i c l e n t t o s a y t h a t t h e r f 1s no m e r l t jn t h e c o r . t s n t l o n

made. In subs t ance , wha t has happened hc re i s t h a t ciie

members of the Eranch , 5 y an e l ec t ion , +ve e l ec t e r? a reform

group t o o f f l c e i n t h e E r a n c h . The p o l i c y o f t h e r e f o r n

group was t o c h a n g e t h e a d m i n i s t r e t l o n . I n g i v i n g e f f e c t t o

t h a t p o l i c y l a i d dovn t h e B r a n c h C o e n c l l has fo l lowed t he p rocedure

I n Ru le 31 (c ) . Tns t pa rk o f Ru le 31 i s an enabl i -q

p r o v i s l o n . I t e n a b l e s r e s o l u L l o n s t o be F a d e a p a r t f r m

meetings and 1s a p r o v l s i o n comnon . ~ n r d l e s o f o r g a n i s s t ~ o n s

and has much merit t o s u p p o r t it. I n t r s l c h , a n 6 d e s p l t e t h e

d e n l a l s of c o u n s e l , t h e a p p l i T a n t s a r e s t t e m p t l n g tr, pc ln

g r e a t s r s e c u r i t y o f employment than t h a t ~ 1 1 1 ~ 1 1 a c c r u e s EO

e l e c t e d o f f i c e r s . R e f i f t h c o n t e n t i c m i s re:ec=erl.

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