Callan Cutcliffe v Pals-J Pty Ltd

Case [2022] FWC 3178


[2022] FWC 3178

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.394 - Application for unfair dismissal remedy

Callan Cutcliffe
v

Pals-J Pty Ltd

(U2022/10039)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI

SYDNEY, 1 DECEMBER 2022

Application for an unfair dismissal remedy.

  1. Callan Cutcliffe (the applicant) was employed by Pals-J Pty Ltd (the respondent) from the 12th of July 2019 through to the 24th of September 2022.

  1. On the 13th of October 2022, the applicant made an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

  1. The respondent objected to the application on the basis that the applicant did not meet the minimum employment period required to lodge an application under section 394 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

  2. On the 17th of November 2022, correspondence was sent to the applicant in relation to the jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent and he was required to respond by the 24th of November 2022. No response was received from the applicant at this time.

  3. On the 25th of November 2022, further correspondence was sent to the applicant directing her to provide a response by 5:00pm on the 29th of November 2022. He was advised that in the absence of a reply, her application may be dismissed.

  1. To date, the applicant has not responded to the jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent, or any further correspondence sent by my Chambers in writing.

  1. Section 587 of the Act provides:

587 Dismissing applications

(1) Without limiting when the FWC may dismiss an application, the FWC may dismiss an application if:

(a) the application is not made in accordance with this Act; or

(b) the application is frivolous or vexatious; or

(c) the application has no reasonable prospects of success.

(2) Despite paragraphs (1)(b) and (c), FWC must not dismiss an application under section 365 or 773 on the ground that the application:

(a) is frivolous or vexatious; or

(b) has no reasonable prospects of success.

(3) FWC may dismiss an application:

(a) on its own initiative; or

(b) on application.

  1. The words, “Without limiting when FWC may dismiss an application” at the commencement of s.587(1) of the Act, establish that the jurisdiction of the Commission to dismiss an application is not limited to the circumstances set out in s.587(1)(a), (b) and (c).

  1. In the circumstances I have decided to dismiss the application for want of prosecution pursuant to s.587(3)(a) of the Act.

  1. An order to that effect will issue with this decision.

VICE PRESIDENT

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Details
AGLC
Callan Cutcliffe v Pals-J Pty Ltd [2022] FWC 3178
Case
[2022] FWC 3178
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Callan Cutcliffe lodged an application for an unfair dismissal remedy against Pals-J Pty Ltd, asserting that his dismissal was unjust. The respondent company opposed the application, arguing that Cutcliffe did not satisfy the minimum employment period required under section 394 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The application was made on 13 October 2022, with jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent on 17 November 2022. Despite further reminders, Cutcliffe did not respond to these objections, leading to the dismissal of his application.

The primary legal issue before the Commission was whether the application could be dismissed for want of prosecution under section 587 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The respondent argued that Cutcliffe's failure to respond to jurisdictional objections and subsequent correspondence warranted dismissal. The Commission noted that section 587(1) of the Act allows the dismissal of an application not only in the circumstances specified but also generally, indicating that the Commission's power to dismiss an application is not confined to the specific grounds mentioned. Given Cutcliffe's lack of response, the Vice President concluded that the application should be dismissed for want of prosecution under section 587(3)(a) of the Act.

In light of the analysis, the Fair Work Commission decided to dismiss Cutcliffe's application for unfair dismissal remedy. The decision was based on the lack of response to jurisdictional objections and further correspondence, leading to the conclusion that the application had no reasonable prospects of success. An order will be issued in accordance with this decision, dismissing the application for want of prosecution.

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