Delaware North Darwin Casino Pty Ltd Trading AS Mindil Beach Casino Resort

Case [2025] FWCA 2225


[2025] FWCA 2225

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Delaware North Darwin Casino Pty Ltd Trading AS Mindil Beach Casino Resort

(AG2025/1876)

THE DELAWARE NORTH MINDIL BEACH CASINO RESORT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025

Hospitality industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT O’KEEFFE

PERTH, 7 JULY 2025

Application for approval of the Delaware North Mindil Beach Casino Resort Enterprise Agreement 2025

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Delaware North Mindil Beach Casino Resort Enterprise Agreement 2025 (the Agreement). The Application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Delaware North Darwin Casino Pty Ltd Trading AS Mindil Beach Casino Resort (the Applicant). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, that commenced operation on 6 June 2023. The notification time for the Agreement under s.173(2) was 5 February 2025 and the Agreement was made on 3 June 2025. Accordingly, both the genuine agreement and the better off overall test requirements are those applying on and from 6 June 2023.

  1. The Applicant expressed the view that the Agreement passes the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) and provided a summary of why it expressed this view. Consistent with s.193A(3) of the Act I have given consideration to this view when determining whether the Agreement passes the BOOT. The United Workers’ Union (UWU), who were a bargaining agent, did not express a view as to whether the Agreement passes the BOOT.

  1. The Applicant has provided written undertakings. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. In response to my question about the eligibility of casual employees to participate in the vote, it transpired that there were twelve casual employees who cast a vote in circumstances where they may have been ineligible. Given that the total voting cohort was 300 employees, of whom 278 voted to approve, I am satisfied that the twelve employees votes – if withdrawn – could not change the outcome of a majority in support.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each requirement of ss186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. The United Workers’ Union (UWU) lodged a Form F18 statutory declaration giving 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 the Agreement covers the United Workers’ Union.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 14 July 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 June 2028.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE529600  PR788986>

ANNEXURE A

Undertaking – Section 190

I, DEBORAH BRENNAN, Director Employee and Industrial Relations, have the authority given to me by Delaware North (the employer) to give the following undertakings with respect to the Delaware North Mindil Beach Casino Resort Enterprise Agreement 2025 (the Agreement):

1. The definition of a shiftworker in Clause 3 shall apply for the purposes of the National Employment Standards and that where the definition confers a lesser benefit than a relevant underpinning Award, the relevant Award entitlement shall apply.

2. Schedule B.4 Spa to read as follows for Level 6 employees:

EA Commencement

ORDINARY HOURS
Full Time and Part Time Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7AM-8PM 8pm-9pm
100% 100% + $1.25 120% 140% + $10.80 250%
6 $34.45 $35.70 $41.34 $59.03 $86.13

Casual Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
125% 125% + $0.75 140% 162.5% + $10.80 250%
6 $43.06 $43.81 $48.23 $66.78 $86.13

OVERTIME HOURS
All Employees

Level

Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
6 $51.68 $68.90 $86.13
Level Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
100% 100% + $1.25 120% 140% + $10.80 250%
6 $35.48 $36.77 $42.58 $60.80 $88.71

Casual Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
125% 125% + $0.75 140% 162.5% + $10.80 250%
6 $44.35 $45.12 $49.68 $68.78 $88.71

OVERTIME HOURS
All Employees

Level

Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
6 $53.23 $70.97 $88.71

First full pay period on or after 7 December 2026

ORDINARY HOURS
Full Time and Part Time Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
100% 100% + $1.25 120% 140% + $10.80 250%
6 $36.55 $37.88 $43.86 $62.63 $91.37

Casual Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
125% 125% + $0.75 140% 162.5% + $10.80 250%
6 $45.69 $46.48 $51.17 $70.85 $91.37

Level

Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
6 $54.82 $73.10 $91.37
 
OVERTIME HOURS

All Employees

Level Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
100% 100% + $1.25 120% 140% + $10.80 250%
6 $37.64 $39.01 $45.17 $64.50 $94.11

Casual Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-9pm
125% 125% + $0.75 140% 162.5% + $10.80 250%
6 $47.06 $47.87 $52.70 $72.97 $94.11

OVERTIME HOURS
All Employees

Level

Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
6 $56.47 $75.29 $94.11

3. First year adult apprentices will be paid more than the rate proscribed in the relevant underpinning Award.

4. Employees employed as a Carpenter in a casual role will be engaged for a minimum of 5¾
hours for each engagement of ordinary hours.

5. Schedule B.1 Gaming to read as follows for Level Intro employees:

EA Commencement

ORDINARY HOURS
Full Time and Part Time Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
100% 100% + $1.25 100% + $2.20 120% 140% 250%
Intro $25.99 $27.24 $28.19 $31.19 $36.39 $64.98

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
125% 125% + $0.75 125% + $2.00 140% 162.5% 250%
Intro $32.49 $33.24 $34.49 $36.39 $42.23 $64.98
 
Casual Employees
Level Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
Intro $38.99 $51.98 $64.98

First full pay period on or after 7 December 2025

ORDINARY HOURS
Full Time and Part Time Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
100% 100% + $1.25 100% + $2.20 120% 140% 250%
Intro $26.77 $28.06 $29.04 $32.12 $37.48 $66.92

Casual Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
125% 125% + $0.75 125% + $2.00 140% 162.5% 250%
Intro $33.46 $34.23 $35.52 $37.48 $43.50 $66.92

OVERTIME HOURS
All Employees

Level

Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
Intro $40.15 $53.54 $66.92

First full pay period on or after 7 December 2026

ORDINARY HOURS
Full Time and Part Time Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
100% 100% + $1.25 100% + $2.20 120% 140% 250%
Intro $27.57 $28.90 $29.91 $33.09 $38.60 $68.93

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
125% 125% + $0.75 125% + $2.00 140% 162.5% 250%
Intro $34.47 $35.26 $36.59 $38.60 $44.81 $68.93
 
Casual Employees
Level Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
Intro $41.36 $55.15 $68.93

First full pay period on or after 7 December 2027

ORDINARY HOURS
Full Time and Part Time Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
100% 100% + $1.25 100% + $2.20 120% 140% 250%
Intro $28.40 $29.77 $30.81 $34.08 $39.76 $71.00

Casual Employees

Level

Monday to Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Public Holiday

7am-8pm 8pm-Midnight Midnight-7am
125% 125% + $0.75 125% + $2.00 140% 162.5% 250%
Intro $35.50 $36.31 $37.68 $39.76 $46.15 $71.00

OVERTIME HOURS
All Employees

Level

Overtime

Public Holiday

First 2 hrs M-F All other
150% 200% 250%
Intro $42.60 $56.80 $71.00

6. Casual employees employed as a Finance Officer do not work a roster that includes only Sunday work, and it is not reasonably foreseeable that such casual employees employed as Finance Officers will work such a roster during the life of the Agreement.

7. The qualifying period for the purposes of Clause 16.10 will be six (6) months rather than twelve (12) months.

These undertakings are provided on the basis of issues raised by the Fair Work Commission in the application before the Fair Work Commission.

_____________________

 

Signature

4 July 2025    
Date

Details
AGLC
Delaware North Darwin Casino Pty Ltd Trading AS Mindil Beach Casino Resort [2025] FWCA 2225
Case
[2025] FWCA 2225
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Fair Work Commission has approved the Delaware North Mindil Beach Casino Resort Enterprise Agreement 2025, which was submitted by Delaware North Darwin Casino Pty Ltd Trading AS Mindil Beach Casino Resort. The agreement was made on 3 June 2025 and the application for approval was lodged pursuant to section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The primary focus of the application was to determine whether the agreement satisfies the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) as stipulated by the Act. Delaware North expressed the view that the agreement meets the BOOT, and while the United Workers’ Union did not provide a specific opinion on the matter, the Deputy President found that the agreement does indeed satisfy the BOOT.

The legal issues at hand primarily revolved around the compliance of the agreement with the BOOT and the provisions of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022. Additionally, the court had to consider the impact of certain undertakings provided by Delaware North and the eligibility of casual employees to participate in the vote. The Deputy President was satisfied that the undertakings provided would not result in financial detriment to any employee or substantial changes to the agreement. Furthermore, despite twelve casual employees potentially being ineligible to vote, their votes did not affect the overall outcome of the approval vote.

The Deputy President concluded that all relevant requirements of the Fair Work Act had been met, subject to the undertakings. These undertakings were incorporated into the agreement. The United Workers’ Union had also notified the Fair Work Commission of their intention for the agreement to cover them, which was duly noted. As a result, the Fair Work Commission approved the agreement, which will commence on 14 July 2025 and expire on 30 June 2028.

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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