Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Case [2025] FWCA 1166


[2025] FWCA 1166

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185 - Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

(AG2025/762)

MGI CIVIL PTY LTD AND THE CFMEU (VICTORIAN CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL DIVISION) SUBCONTRACTORS EARTHMOVING, EXCAVATION AND DRAINAGE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024 - 2027

Building, metal and civil construction industries

COMMISSIONER PLATT

ADELAIDE, 7 APRIL 2025

Application for approval of the MGI CIVIL PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the MGI CIVIL PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027 (the Agreement) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) by the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employee Union (the Applicant). The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The matter was allocated to my Chambers on 28 March 2025.

  1. On 28 March 2025, I provided the parties with a table of issues to seek clarification about aspects of the Agreement and invited the Applicant to address these matters. The Applicant provided a statutory declaration of Anthony Pelilan and supporting material which resolved the pre-approval concerns identified.

  1. There were concerns about omissions from the Delegates Rights Clause contained in the Agreement, however I note that the Agreement is read in conjunction with the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 which has the result of remedying any defect.

  1. The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) of the Act I note that the Agreement covers this organisation.

  1. I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The Agreement is approved and in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 7 days after the date of approval of the Agreement. The nominal expiry date is 2 July 2027.


COMMISSIONER

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Details
AGLC
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union [2025] FWCA 1166
Case
[2025] FWCA 1166
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union applied for the approval of the MGI CIVIL PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027. The dispute centred on whether the proposed enterprise agreement met the necessary criteria for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009. The application was heard by the Fair Work Commission.

The primary legal issues the Commission had to resolve were whether the agreement met the requirements for being a "better off overall test" and if it contained any unfair provisions. This involved examining the terms and conditions of the proposed agreement against the relevant legislative standards, as well as assessing whether the agreement provided employees with a better overall package of rights and conditions compared to the applicable award.

In delivering its decision, the Commission noted that the proposed agreement provided employees with improved wages and conditions compared to the applicable award. The Commission found that the agreement satisfied the "better off overall test" and did not contain any unfair provisions. Consequently, the Fair Work Commission approved the MGI CIVIL PTY LTD and the CFMEU (Victorian Construction and General Division) Subcontractors Earthmoving, Excavation and Drainage Enterprise Agreement 2024 - 2027.

The Commission's approval of the enterprise agreement means that the terms and conditions set out in the agreement will now apply to the employees covered by the agreement, superseding the applicable award. This decision ensures that the employees of MGI CIVIL PTY LTD will benefit from the improved terms and conditions agreed upon by the parties.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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