Federal Court of Australia

[2024] FWCA 1451

[2024] FWCA 1451

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

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

Federal Court of Australia

(AG2024/940)

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024-2027

Commonwealth employment
COMMISSIONER PLATT	ADELAIDE, 22 APRIL 2024

Application for approval of the Federal Court of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027

1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Federal Court of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (the Agreement) pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) by the Federal Court of Australia (the Applicant). The agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

1. The matter was allocated to my Chambers on 8 April 2024.

1. On 10 April 2024, I conducted a telephone conference with the parties to seek clarification about aspects of the Agreement and invited the Applicant to address these matters including through the provision of an undertaking.

1. The Agreement contains a number of changes which when considered in isolation, are less advantageous than the Award. These include increased ordinary hours, an expanded spread of hours and some penalty rates. I note that the Agreement also confers benefits of universal application including paid leave between Christmas and New Year and increased Superannuation Contributions.  I have not considered additional benefits which were conditional in their application and/or difficult to quantify in monetary terms.  I find that the universal improvements offset the disadvantages referred to. 

1. The Applicant has submitted an undertaking in the required form dated 17 April 2024, a copy of which is attached to this Agreement. The undertaking deals with the following topics:

·  Higher duties allowance will be paid to employees after half a day where they occupy a role at a classification level higher than their substantive classification level consistent with the Australian Public Service Enterprise Award 2015.

·  Higher duties allowance will not be paid to employees above the salary barrier (Executive Level) for a period of less than a week, unless the Agency Head considers special circumstances exist.

·  The requirement to prescribe the agreed part time hours of working including the start and finish times so as to determine when overtime is payable has been inserted, consistent with the Australian Public Service Enterprise Award 2015.

·  A Part-time minimum engagement provision has been inserted, consistent with the Australian Public Service Enterprise Award 2015.

·  Where TOIL has been agreed and has not been utilised within 4 weeks, payment of the original entitlement will be made.

1. A copy of the undertaking has been provided to the bargaining representatives and I have sought their views in accordance with s.190(4) of the Act. The bargaining representatives did not express any view on the undertaking.

1. The undertaking appears to meet the requirements of s.190(3) of the Act and I have accepted it. As a result, the undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

1. The Community and Public Sector 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 28 February 2027.

COMMISSIONER

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