Hussey & Co Resources Pty Ltd T/A Hussey & Co
[2023] FWCA 2654
•22 AUGUST 2023
| [2023] FWCA 2654 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
Hussey & Co Resources Pty Ltd T/A Hussey & Co
(AG2023/2628)
HUSSEY & CO RESOURCES PTY LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023
| Agricultural industry | |
| DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASSON | MELBOURNE, 22 AUGUST 2023 |
Application for approval of the Hussey & Co Resources Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023
An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Hussey & Co Resources Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Hussey & Co Resources Pty Ltd T/A Hussey & Co. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.
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.
Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. Question 18 of the Form F17A provides that the notification time for the Agreement was December 2022.
Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023. The better off overall test provisions in Part 2-4 of the Fair Work Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the agreement was made before 6 June 2023. Question 26.2 of the Form F17A provides that the Agreement was made on 21 July 2023.
The Employer has provided written undertakings. A copy of the undertakings is attached in Annexure A. 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. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the agreement.
Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188 and 190 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.
I note that clause 15.1.2 may be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards. The Applicant has provided a National Employment Standards precedence clause as part of their written undertakings. I am consequently satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail.
The United Workers’ 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) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.
The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s.54 of the Act, will operate from 29 August 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 21 August 2027.
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
<AE521205 PR765408>
Annexure A
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