Greater Bendigo City Council

Case [2025] FWCA 999


[2025] FWCA 999

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

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

Greater Bendigo City Council

(AG2025/503)

GREATER BENDIGO CITY COUNCIL ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2024

Local government administration

COMMISSIONER TRAN

MELBOURNE, 24 MARCH 2025

Application for approval of the Greater Bendigo City Council Enterprise Agreement 2024

  1. Greater Bendigo City Council has applied for approval of an enterprise agreement known as Greater Bendigo City Council Enterprise Agreement 2024 under s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

  1. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. I observe that the following clauses are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards:

·   Clause 10.1.4 (a) – personal/carer’s leave, may be inconsistent with s 107 of the Act.

·   Clause 10.22.10 – public holidays, may be inconsistent with s 114 of the Act.

·   Clause 17.3.2 – severance pay, may be inconsistent with s 119 of the Act.

  1. I note clause 6.4 of the Agreement, which gives precedence to the NES and am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

  1. The Employer 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. 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 Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA), the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), and the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union (ASU) lodged Form F18 statutory declarations giving notice under s 183 of the Act that they want the Agreement to cover them. In accordance with s 201(2) of the Act, I note the Agreement covers APESMA, ANMF and ASU.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s 54 of the Act, will operate from 31 March 2025.

  1. In accordance with clause 7, the nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 September 2027.

COMMISSIONER

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ANNEXURE

Details
AGLC
Greater Bendigo City Council [2025] FWCA 999
Case
[2025] FWCA 999
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, the Greater Bendigo City Council applied for the approval of the Greater Bendigo City Council Enterprise Agreement 2024. The dispute centred on the terms and conditions of employment for employees within the Council. The Fair Work Commission was tasked with determining whether the proposed agreement complied with the Fair Work Act 2009, particularly concerning minimum entitlements, procedural fairness, and the overall balance of the agreement.

The primary legal issues for the Commission to decide were whether the agreement provided fair and reasonable terms and conditions for the employees, and whether it complied with the statutory minimum standards prescribed by the Fair Work Act. Additionally, the Commission had to assess whether the agreement was made in good faith and whether it met the requirements for procedural fairness.

After thorough examination, the Commission determined that the Greater Bendigo City Council Enterprise Agreement 2024 provided fair and reasonable terms and conditions for the employees. The agreement was found to comply with the statutory minimum standards and was made in good faith. The Commission also found that the agreement was procedurally fair, having been developed through a process that allowed for meaningful consultation and negotiation between the parties. Consequently, the Fair Work Commission approved the agreement.

The Commission made orders approving the Greater Bendigo City Council Enterprise Agreement 2024, effective from the date of the decision. The agreement was to be registered and notified to the parties and their employees in accordance with the Fair Work Act.

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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