Cooke v Rinnai Australia

[2016] FWC 926

[2016] FWC 926

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.365—General protections
Richard Cooke
v
Rinnai Australia
(C2015/7182)
DEPUTY PRESIDENT LAWRENCE	SYDNEY, 11 FEBRUARY 2016
Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal.

[1]        On 5 November Mr Richard Cooke (the Applicant) lodged a General Protections

application involving a dismissal pursuant to s.365 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The

application alleged that the Applicant had been dismissed by Rinnai Australia Pty ltd (the

Respondent).

[2]        The Applicant commenced employment with the Respondent on 13 July 2015. He was

a help desk support worker located in Melbourne. The Applicant says that he was dismissed

on 8 October and that the dismissal took effect from 15 October. It is clear from the

Respondent’s termination letter that it was effective on 8 October because one weeks’ notice

was paid in lieu and the Applicant ceased work on that day.

[3]        The application therefore was lodged 7 days out of time.

Alleged Contravention

[4]        The Applicant submits that he was dismissed because of “unmanaged conflict with

other members of the team”. Breaches of ss. 340 and 343 are alleged.

Respondent’s Submissions

[5]        The Respondent denies these allegations and further denies that there has been a

breach of the General Protections provisions of the Act.

[6]        The Respondent states that the Applicant was dismissed because of a number of

performance issues which had become apparent during his six month probation which

convinced the Respondent that he was not suitable for the position. It acknowledges that there

are a number of issues of conflict within the team but says that appropriate steps were taken to

deal with these. The Applicant was dismissed because of technical deficiencies which were

revealed in his performance of the job.
[2016] FWC 926
Relevant Legislation

[7]        Section 366 of the Act provides:

366 Time for application

366(1) An application under section 365 must be made:

(a)	within 21 days after the dismissal took effect; or
(b)	within such further period as the FWC allows under subsection (2).

366(2) The FWC may allow a further period if the FWC is satisfied that there are

exceptional circumstances, taking into account:

(a)	the reason for the delay; and
(b)	any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal; and
(c)	prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay);

and

(d)	the merits of the application; and
(e)	fairness as between the person and other persons in a like position.”

Approach of the Commission

[8]        The considerations relevant to the assessment of whether exceptional circumstances

exist have been dealt with by Full Benches exist have been dealt with by Full Benches (see:

McConell v A & PM Fornatoro t/a Tony’s Plumbing Service (2011) 202 IR 59; Nulty v Blue

Star Group Pty Ltd (2011) 203 IR 1; (Nulty) and Robinson v Interstate Transport Pty Ltd

(2011) FWAFB 2728). The following useful summary was provided in Nulty:

“[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.”

[9]        The onus of establishing exceptional circumstances is on the Applicant who needs to

provide a credible reason for the whole of the period that the application was delayed. (See:

Cheval Properties Pty Ltd (t/as Penrith Hotel Motel) v Smithers [2010] 197 IR 403).

[2016] FWC 926

[10]      This point was emphasised by the Full Bench in the recent decision of Diotti v

Lenswood Cold Stores Co-op Society t/a Lenswood Organic [2016] FWCFB 349 which,

although concerned with the unfair dismissal application, contained the following statement,

which is equally applicable to a s.365 application:

“[29] The appellant relies upon the Full Bench decision in Mitchell Shaw v Australia

and New Zealand Banking Group Limited T/A ANZ Bank [2015] FWCFB 287 (Shaw

and ANZ), at paragraph [12] the majority decision states:

‘[12] This decision makes an important point which we consider deserves re-

emphasising. The delay required to be considered is the period beyond the

prescribed 21 day period for lodging an application. It does not include the

period from the date of the dismissal to the end of the 21 day period. …’

[30]      This extract must be read in its entirety. The decision goes on to state:

‘[12] … The circumstances from the time of the dismissal must be

considered in order to determine whether there is a reason for the delay beyond

the 21 day period and ultimately whether that reason constitutes exceptional

circumstances.’

[31]      Hence, the decision emphasised that while the delay to be considered is the

period subsequent to the expiration of 21 days, the circumstances from the time of the

dismissal must be considered in determining whether the reason for the delay

constitutes exceptional circumstances. For example if an applicant is in hospital for the

first 20 days of the 21 day period this would be a relevant consideration if the

application was filed 2 days out of time as occurred in this matter. The reason for the

delay by reference to the circumstances from the date the dismissal took effect is as

expressed in Shaw and ANZ the correct approach.”

Commission Proceedings

[11]      On 23 November 2015, the parties were advised by the Fair Work Commission (the

Commission) that the application had not been made within 21 days of the dismissal taking

effect. Directions were issued for the filing of witness statements and submissions as to

whether the Commission should grant further time for lodgement pursuant to s.366(2) of the

Act. The matter was listed for hearing on 18 January 2016.

[12]      The Applicant was self-represented. The Respondent was represented by Ms K.

Minogue, solicitor. Ms Minogue was granted permission to appear pursuant to s.596.

Matters to be taken into account pursuant to s.366(2)

[13]      In deciding whether to allow a further period for an application to be made the

Commission must take into account the matters set out in s.366(2) above. I will deal with each

of those matters separately.

(a) The reason for the delay

[2016] FWC 926

[14]      The Applicant says that he believed that he had another week to lodge the application

because time ran from seven days after the date of his dismissal. No further explanation is

provided for the delay.

[15]      As I have said, it is clear that the dismissal took effect from 8 October as his notice

was paid out.

[16]      Accordingly, the reasons for delay cited by the Applicant fall short of establishing

exceptional circumstances.

(b) Any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal

[17]      There is no evidence that the Applicant took action before lodging the application to

dispute the dismissal.

(c) Prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay)

[18]      Given the overall facts, the Respondent would be prejudiced by the time and costs

involved in further litigation.

(d) Merits of the application

[19]      The Respondent provides evidence of a number of examples of the Applicant’s

difficulties in performing the role. It appears to me likely that the Respondent would be able

to show that these were the operative reasons for the dismissal.

[20]      I do not consider that the merits of the application give weight to the existence of

exceptional circumstances.

(e) Fairness as between the person and other persons in a like position

[21]      This factor was not addressed and has not been taken into account.

Conclusion and Order

[22]      Having considered all of the factors set out in s.366(2), I am not satisfied that there are

exceptional circumstances warranting the granting of a further period for the making of an

application under s.366(2). Accordingly, the application is dismissed.

[2016] FWC 926

Order

Pursuant to s.587 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act), the application made by Richard

Cooke under s.365 of the Act is dismissed.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Appearances:

R. Cooke, applicant;

K. Minogue, solicitor with F. Karanikolas and M. Saville for the Respondent.

Hearing details:

2016

January 18 (Telephone Hearing)

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