In the matter of an Application... for an inquiry into the Federated Clerks Union of Australia, South Australia Branch

[1983] FCA 127

I N THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ) )

SOUTH	AUSTRALIAN	DISTRICT	REGISTRY	)	S . A .	NO.15	Of	1961
)

DIVISIO	INDUSTRIAL	)
I N THE MATTER of an
appl ica t lon under s.159 of
Conci l ia t ion and Arb i t r a t ion
A c t 1904 for a n i n q u i r y i n t o
EVATT J.

2 8 June 1983

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

On 16 July 1981 Maureen Faye Hibbert, Michael James

Knight , Michae l Anthony Pr ichard , Alexander Ml lne Rober t son ,

Frederlck William Higqins and James Leslie Balley as members of

the Federated ( t h e Branch Clerks Union of Australia, South Australian Eranch

of t he o r q a n l z a t i o n ) l o d g e d w i t h t h e I n d u s t r i a l

Registrar an appl icat ion under P a r t I X of the Concl l ia t ion and

A r b l t r a t i o n A c t 1904 ( the Federal Act) seeklnq an lnquiry Into

t h e e l e c t i o n of t h e Branch President, the Branch Deputy

President , Branch the Vice-President and th ree F de ra l

C o u n c i l l o r s of the Branch of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n w h i c h h a d b e e n

completed on 31 March 1981.

The Federated Clerks Unlon of A u s t r a l i a ( t h e

orqanlza t ion) 1s a n orqanlza t lon o f employees reg is te red under

2.

t h e F e d e r a l States of Austral ia including South	A c t .	I t	h a s	r e g i s t e r e d	b r a n c h e s	i n	t h e	v a r i o u s
Australia.

I n t h e s a i d e l e c t i o n t h e f i r s t and f i f t h named

app l l can t s were candida tes for two of the pos i t ions o f Branch

Federal Councillor: the second named app l i can t a candlda te for

t he o f f i ce f o r t h e o f f i c e o f o f P re s lden t : t he t h i rd named app l i can t a candidate

Branch Deputy P res lden t wh i l s t t he fou r th named

app l i can t was a c a n d i d a t e o t h e f o r f i c e o f Branch

Vice-President. None o f t he app l i can t s was s u c c e s s f u l , t h e

m a r g i n s f o r e a c h o f f i c e o t h e r t h a n B r a n c h F e d e r a l C o u n c i l l o r

b e i n g i n t h e v i c i n l t y o f 2 t o 1 aga lns t i n a t o t a l v o t e o f some

2000 i n respec t of each of f ice .

The a p p l i c a t l o n f o r s u c h i n q u l r y p a r t l c u l a r i s e d 16

a l l eged i r r egu la r i t i e s cove r ing some 1 4 foo l scap pages , de t a i l s

of which are deal t w i t h l a t e r h e r e i n .

The I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r a f t e r s a t i s f y i n g h i m s e l f t h a t

t h e r e were reasonable grounds for an inquiry referred the matter

t o t h e C o u r t g a v e c e r t a i n d i r e c t i o n s a s t o t h e f i l i n g o f p o i n t s o f c l a i m C o u r t ( s e e s.160 o f t h e F e d e r a l A c t ) . T h e r e a f t e r t h e

and poin ts o f defence by the appl icants , the o rganiza t ion , the

Branch o f t he o rgan iza t ion and cer ta in persons whom the Court had

allowed t o appear or t o be represented (s.164).

On 1 7 September 1981 Mr Johns ton Q.C., who w l t h M r

Heywood-Sml th , appea red fo r t he success fu l cand ida te s In t he

e l e c t i o n and (so f a r a s It was l e g a l l y p o s s i b l e ) f o r t h e Branch

o f t h e o r g a n l z a t i o n , s o u g h t a n d was g r a n t e d i n t e r i m o r d e r s

pu r suan t t o s.163 of the F deral Act t ha t t he success fu l

c a n d i d a t e s f o r t h e o f f i c e s o f Branch Pres ldent , Branch Deputy

Pres ident and the Branch Vice-President who had assumed o f f i c e

fo l lowing the sub jec t e l ec t ion con t inue to ac t i n each r e spec t ive

o f f l c e . M r Mansf ie ld who, w l th M r Moloney , appeared for the

app l i can t s opposed t h i s a p p l l c a t i o n and submi t ted tha t the Cour t

i n a l l t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s h o u l d make i n t e r l m o r d e r s t h a t t h e

r e spec t ive app l i can t s who had purported to nominate as candidates

f o r e a c h c i r cums tances wh ich a re r e fe r r ed to l a t e r i n these r easons be the o f t h e s a i d t h r e e o f f i c e s o n 1 6 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 1 i n

holders o f the respec t ive o f f ices pending the dec is lon of the

Court i n t h e i n q u i r y .

E a c h o f t h e s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e s h a d i n f a c t b e e n

e l e c t e d t o t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e o f f i c e s i n 1975 and again in 1978. A s

a t 1 7 September 1981 the 1 9 7 8 e l e c t i o n , b e i n g a n e l e c t i o n

completed wlthin 4 yea r s , may then have been challenged b u t t h e

1975 e lec t lon , be ing comple ted more than 4 y e a r s b e f o r e t h a t

d a t e , was, s u b j e c t t o s . 1 7 1 G . deemed t o be va l id fo r a l l pu rposes

( s e e s .171F of the Federa l Act ) . I n vlew of t h e v o t e s c a s t f o r

e a c h o f t h e c a n d i d a t e s f o r e a c h o f t h e t h r e e o f f i c e s l n t h e

s u b j e c t e l e c t l o n t h e C o u r t , b e l n g s a t l s f i e d t h a t h e e f f l c l e n t

conduc t o f t he a f f a i r s o f t he Branch of t he o rgan iza t ion would

no t be lmpa l r ed by maklng t h e l n t e r l m o r d e r s o u g h t b y Mr

t

4 .

Johnston ordered that , pendlng fur ther order o f t h e C o u r t , t h e

three successfu l candida tes cont inue t o ac t l n t h e o f f i c e s t h a t

they had s u b j e c t e l e c t i o n . assumed following the d e c l a r a t i o n o f t h e po l l I n t h e

BACKGROUND

o rder In t o unde r s t and ce r t a in t he o f l l eged

i r r e g u l a r i t l e s p a r t i c u l a r i s e d b y t h e a p p l i c a n t s a br ief h i s t o r y

of the South Australian Branch of the organlza t lon 1s set o u t .

For many years ln South Aus t ra l ia there has been an assoc la t ion

of employees commonly known as e i t h e r " t h e S o u t h A u s t r a l i a n

Branch o f the Clerks	Union"	or simply	"the Clerks	Union of	South
Aus t ra l ia" .

A t a l l r e l e v a n t times t h e r e h a s b e e n r e g i s t e r e d I n

accordance with t h e I n d u s t r l a l C o n c i l i a t i o n and Arb i t r a t ion A c t

1972 ( S . A . ) ( t h e South Australian A c t ) a union under the name o f

the "Federated Clerks Union Aus t ra l ia , of South Aus t ra l ian

B r a n c h " w h i c h h e r e i n a f t e r s h a l l be r e f e r r e d t o a s " t h e S t a t e

Union". This a lso has been the formal name o f t h e Branch o f the

organizat ion s ince about 1919 in South Aus t ra l la (see f e d e r a l

r . 1 2 ( 1 ) ) . Pursuant t o ss.139 and 140 of the South Aus t ra l ian A c t

the S ta te Union on r e g i s t r a t i o n became on and frcm the day of Its

r e g i s t r a t i o n a "body corporate by i t s r e g i s t e r e d name'' having a

common s e a l sued i n i t s corporate name and and pe rpe tua l success lon wi th the r lgh t t o sue and be

capacity. A t a l l r e l e v a n t times

r u l e s o f the S t a t e Union ( the S t a t e Unlon r u l e s ) were r e g l s t e r e d

t

6.

5.

with the South

Aus t ra l lan accordance wlth the South Australian Act. S ta te Indus t r ia l Regis t ra r in

Also dur ing th i s pe r iod ru l e s o f t he o rgan lza t lon ( the

F e d e r a l r u l e s ) a n d o f t h e B r a n c h o f t h e o r g a n i z a t l o n ( t h e

c e r t i f i e d r u l e s of the Branch of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o r t h e Branch

Rules) have been r gls tered wlth the Federal Industr ia l

Reg l s t r a r . Up unt i l about 1974 r e l evan t ru l e s of bo th the S ta te

Union and t h e Branch o f t he o rgan iza t lon were t h e same. Both

s e t s o f r u l e s made provis ion for a Branch Councll and a Branch

Executive and f o r c e r t a l n o f f l c e r s and t h e i r e l e c t i o n . Both s e t s

o f r e g i s t e r e d o r c e r t i f i e d r u l e s i n c l u d e d a r u l e maklng provis ion

f o r t h e amendment o f t he r e spec t ive ru l e s . Add i t iona l ly r . 1 2 ( 2 )

o f t he ce r t i f i ed Fede ra l ru l e s a t a l l r e l evan t imes p rov ided

tha t t he ru l e s o f b ranches of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a l l conform t o

t h e r u l e s r u l e s and of the o rgan lza t ion and t h a t s u b j e c t o t h e f e d e r a l

t o t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e F e d e r a l E x e c u t i v e , a b ranch

s h a l l h a v e power t o make r u l e s f r o m t i m e t o t i m e f o r i t s own

i n t e r n a l management (emphasis added).

A t a l l r e l e v a n t i m e s a n y amendment t o t h e r u l e s o f

e i t h e r t h e S t a t e e f f e c t u n t i l a p p r o v e d o r c e r t i f i e d Union o r t h e Branch of the o rganiza t lon had no

by e i t h e r t h e S t a t e I n d u s t r i a l

Regis t ra r pursuant to s.121(2) of the South Australian Act on t h e

one hand t o s.139(4) of o r , on t h e o t h e r , by the Indus t r la l Regls t ra r pursuant

the Federal Act and r eg . 1 2 8 o f t he r egu la t lons

made thereunder . In pract ice any amendments t o t h e r u l e s o f t h e

6- .

6.

Branch of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n l o d g e d f o r

c e r t i f l c a t l o n by the Indus t r ia l Regis t ra r un t i l approved by the

Federal Executlve. (see r g. 1 2 8 ( 2 ) which p rov ides t ha t a

S t a tu to ry Dec la ra t ion be f i l ed I n suppor t o f an appl ica t ion to

amend t h e r u l e s s h o w i n g t h a t t h e a l t e r a t l o n h a s b e e n made i n

accordance with the rules of the organizat ion or the Branch) .

I t i s c l e a r i n my view t h a t f o r y e a r s no d i s t i n c t i o n

has been and t h e Members between made i n t h e normal course of business by t h e O f f i c i a l s

the State Unlon and t h e Branch o f t h e

organiza t ion . Both were r e f e r r e d t o s i m p l y a s " t h e Branch" t h e

bodies of each as " the Branch Counci l" or " the Branch Executive"

and the ru l e s a s " the Branch r u l e s " .

As w i l l be s e e n l a t e r t h e d a t e , 1 9 January 1961, was a

m a t e r i a l d a t e . Between 1974 and 1 9 January 1981 meetings of a

body known wi th in " the Branch" slmply a s t h e "Branch Council" met

from t lme to t lme and adopted resolut ions lncluding amendments t o

" t h e Branch Rules". During t h l s p e r i o d t h e r e was In general use

wl th in the Branch only the one s e t o f r u l e s p r in t ed i n booklet

form. From t i m e t o t u n e t h i s r u l e book would b e r e p r i n t e d t o

include amendments to the r j l l es adopted by t h e Branch Council and

would t h e r e a f t e r beccme t h e r u l e book fo r t he use o f t he Branch

o f f i c i a l s . I t was a l so i ssued to those members of the Eranch who

requested a copy of the Branch r u l e s .

Followlng the adoptlon of amendments t o t h e r u l e s by

.

6

7 .

t h e Branch Counci dur ing l thls per iod the Branch Secretary, in

accordance w l t h t he p rov i s ions o f t he Sou th Aus t r a l i an A c t and

r egu la t ions , would lodge the amendments wlth the South Austral ian

I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r for r e g i s t r a t i o n and a t the same tune would

forward copies of the amendments t o the Federal Secre ta ry of the

organiza t ion (whose of f ice was i n Melbourne) for approval by the

Federal Execut lve in accordance with Federal r . l2(2) . Thereafter

t h e S o u t h A u s t r a l i a n I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r r e g i s t e r e d v a r l o u s

r e l e v a n t amendments t o t h e S t a t e Union ru l e s i n acco rdance w l th

t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e S o u t h A u s t r a l i a n A c t . But f o r r e a s o n s

which a r e n o t r e l e v a n t t o t h i s i n q u i r y t he amendments t o t h e

rules of t h e Branch o f the organization whlch had been forwarded

to the F deral Secretary t he o f o rgan iza t ion du r ing t h i s

par t icu lar per iod had no t rece ived the approval of t h e Federal

Executlve and consequently had not been lodged with the Federal

I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r f o r c e r t i f l c a t i o n p u r s u a n t o s.139(4) of

t h e Federa l A c t . C o n s e q u e n t l y a s a t 19 J a n u a r y 1981 t h e

r e g i s t e r e d r u l e s of t h e S t a t e Union and t h e c e r t i f l e d r u l e s of

t h e Branch of the organization were not identical In materlal

respects p a r t i c u l a r l y as t o the l a s t day for lodging nominations

e l e c t i o n s i n f o r t h e s u b l e c t Eiranch o f f i c e r s and Federal

C o u n c i l l o r s , t h e r u l e i n r s p e c t o f the appointment of a

R e t u r n l n g O f f l c e r , t he r u l e s g o v e r n i n g t h e p r o c e d u r e f o r t he

e l e c t i o n o f p r o v l d i n g f o r t h e e l l g i b l l l t y o f f l c e r s and Branch Councillors and the r u l e s

of members. These m a t t e r s a r e d e a l t

w i t h l a t e r h e r e i n .

6.

F u r t h e r , i n o r about 1975 pursuant to agreements made

between certain employers of members of the Branch and t h e Eranch I t s e l f , employers made deductions from t h e wages of members t o cover those members' subscr ip t ions t o Branch. the Such

deductions were made e i ther weekly , for tn lght ly o r month ly

depending on the par t icular employer . Employers t r a d i t i o n a l l y

c l o s e d t h e i r experience had shown t h a t many of them who had	b u s i n e s s e s	between	Christmas	and	the	New Year and
deducted

appropr ia te amounts i n r e s p e c t o f members' subsc r ip t ions du r ing

December d ld not forward those amounts t o the Branch u n t i l l a t e

i n J a n u a r y , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t a l l s t of members f l n a n c i a l a s

a t 31 December of a par t icular year complled during January of

the following n o t n e c e s s a r i l y year from the records kept wi th in the Branch d l d

i n c l u d e a l l f i n a n c i a l members a s a t 31 December.

In th i s r ega rd no separa te record was k e p t i n r e s p e c t o f payments

of dues to the S ta te Union o r t o t h e Branch of the organlza t lon .

The r e g l s t e r e d r u l e s o f t h e S t a t e Union and t h e

c e r t i f i e d r u l e s o f t h e Branch of t h e o r g a n l z a t l o n p r i o r t o 1 9 7 6

p r o v l d e d t h a t n o m i n a t i o n s f o r c e r t a i n o f f i c e s a n d p o s i t i o n s

wlthln the Branch were t o c l o s e by t h e t h i r d Monday i n January I n

p a r t i c u l a r y e a r s and tha t he nominators and nominees for such

o f f i c e s o r p o s l t l o n s were t o b e f i n a n c l a l a s a t 3 1 Cecember of

t h e p r e v i o u s d i f f i c u l t l e s y e a r . B e c a u s e o f t h e m a t t e r s r e f e r r e d t o a b o v e

had been experienced In ascertaining the correctness

o f t h e l i s t o f f i n a n c i a l members a s a t 31 December. Consequently

the Branch Councll had i n 1976 adopted an amendment t o t h e Branch

9 .

r u l e s so tha t nominat lons for those of f ices and p o s l t i o n s were t o

c l o s e on f i n a n c i a l p o s i t i o n o f	t h e t h l r d	Monday	i n F e b r u a r y , t h e c u t - o f f d a t e a s t o t h e
t h e	nominators and nominees still belng 3 1

December of the previous year.

In accordance with is pract ice the Branch Sec re t a ry

had forwarded t h l s amendment bo th o Sou th e Aus t r a l i an

I n d u s t r l a l R e g i s t r a r and t o the Federal Secretary for approval by

the Federal Execut ive. Thereaf ter the South Austral ian Industr ia l

Registrar approved the amendment b u t it 1s now known t h a t h e

s a i d amendment t o 2 0 January 1981 and was n o t considered by the Federal Execut ive pr ior

consequently had not been lodged with the

I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r for c e r t i f i c a t i o n p u r s u a n t o s . 1 3 9 ( 4 ) o f

the Federal Act before the third Monday m January of tha t year ,

namely 1 9 January 1981.

The evidence shows t h a t i n 1975 and 1978 t h e r e was only

t h e o n e e l e c t i o n h e l d i n e a c h o f t h o s e y e a r s f o r t h e f i l l i n g o f

t h e o f f i c e s Federal Councillors of Pres ldent , i n bo th the S ta t e Deputy President, Vice-President and

Union and t h e Branch of t h e

organlza t ion and t h a t t h a t was t o be the pos i t ion In respec t o f

t h e t r i e n n l a l e e c t i o n s for t h o s e o f f i c e s b e t o h I n l d

February/March 1981. In 1976 t h e e l e c t i o n had been conducted in

accordance with the provis lons of r . 3 1 appearing I n t h e Branch

ru l e book ; t ha t i s any necessary ba l lo t was t o be a p o s t a l b a l l o t

o f t he whole o f t h e membership of t h e Branch. Thls again was t o

be the posl t ion In 1981. Further this had a l so been the pos l t lon

.

10 .

i n r e g a r d Branch t o t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e Branch Secretary and Assistant

Secretary in 1978. There w a s b u t t h e o n e l e c t i o n for

these two o f f l c e s i n b o t h t h e S t a t e R e g i s t e r e d Union and I n t h e

Branch of the organization. Again any necessary ballot was t o be

a p o s t a l b a l l o t d e s p i t e of t h e whole o f the membershlp of the Branch

t h e f a c t h a t , a s w i l l be s e e n l a t e r h e r e l n , t h e

c e r t i f i e d ru les of the Branch in 1978 provided that the f i l l ing

o f t h e s e members of t w o o f f i c e s was t o be b y a c o l l e g i a t e e l e c t i o n b y

the Branch Council.

Further the evidence is t h a t a t a l l r e l e v a n t times a l l

members o f t he C le rks Union i n South Australia belonged t o both

"Unions", t h a t i s t h e S t a t e Union and t h e Branch o f the

organiza t ion and only pa id the one se t of dues each year.

A s regards intended the t imlng of the s u b j e c t

e l ec t ion , t he ev ldence i s t h a t t h e Branch Secretary on 29 August

1980 had f i l e d w l t h t h e f e d e r a l I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r i n Melbourne

a r e t u r n , F e d e r a l s t a t e d t o be p u r s u a n t t o r e g . 1 3 6 B made under t h e

A c t but obvious ly meant t o be p u r s u a n t t o reg. 136C,

advis ing the Regis t ra r t ha t nominations for the f i l l i n g o f the

s u b j e c t o f f l c e s were t o be c a l l e d n o t l a t e r t h a n 9 February 1981

and were t o c l o s e o n Monday, 16 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 1 . F u r t h e r , t h e

agenda forwarded by the Branch Secretary t o Branch Councillors on

14 January t o be held 1981 in respect o f t he mee t ing o f the Branch Council

on 20 January 1981 shows an i t e m no .9 : " the 1981

Branch Elections: (a) appointment of Returning Cfficer and ( b )

c

a s s i s t a n c e t o Returnlng Officer. ' '

Further lt 1s clear from the ev idence tha t meet lngs of

t h e Branch Council and Branch Executive held from time t o time

dur ing re levant per iods UP u n t i l J a n u a r y 1981 were n o t c l e a r l y

designated as meetlngs of e i t h e r the Council or Executive of the

S t a t e Union or of t h e Branch of the organiza t lon . In t h i s regard

It i s n o t e d t h a t i n t h i s l n q u l r y t h e r e h a s b e e n no real i s s u e

whether a p a r t i c u l a r m e e t i n g of t h e B r a n c h C o u n c i l o r of t h e

Eranch Executive was i n f a c t a meetlng of the S t a t e Unlon body or

of t h e body of f i n d i n g i n t h l s r e g a r d t h e Branch o f t he o rgan iza t ion and consequently no

i s made i n th l s i n q u l r y i n respect of any

of such meetings.

Fur ther , it is c l e a r t h a t d u r l n g t h l s t i m e the var lous

r u l e books which had b e e n p r i n t e d b y t h e E r a n c h f o l l o w i n g

amendments belng regls tered by the South Austral ian Industr ia l

R e g l s t r a r w e r e t r e a t e d b y t h e o f f i c i a l s o f the Branch a s b e l n g

t h e r u l e s of t h e E r a n c h w i t h o u t a n y d e l i b e r a t e c o n s i d e r a t l o n

be ing g lven by t he o f f i c i a l s a s t o whe the r such ru l e s were t he

c e r t i f i e d r u l e s of the Branch of the organlzat ion or were t h e

r e g i s t e r e d r u l e s of t h e State Union.

In add l t lon It is no ted t ha t the Court as p re sen t ly

c o n s t i t u t e d has heard considerable vidence in some f o u r o t h e r

proceedlngs concerning the Branch of the organization which were

12.

commenced between 1 3 February 1961 and 2 1 October 1961 pursuant

t o S .l40 a n d / o r S .l41 o f t h e F e d e r a l A c t . The a p p l l c a n t s i n

those proceedlngs are I n t he main the same a p p l i c a n t s a s I n t he

present inqui ry . Those p r o c e e d i n g s i n v o l v e ( I n t e r a l i a )

cha l l enges t o t he ru l e s of t h e Branch of the organizat lon under

s.140 of the Federal A c t p a r t l c u l a r l y t h e r u l e s p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e

te rm of of f ice for the Branch Secre ta ry and t h e Branch Ass i s t an t

Sec re t a ry , t he ru l e p rov id ing fo r t he e l ec t ion of members o f t h e

B r a n c h C o u n c i l o t h e r t h a n t h e o f f l c e r s o f t h e B r a n c h a n d t h e

r u l e s providing for the appointment of a Returning Officer. The

main thrus t o f those cha l lenges apar t from the te rm of of f ice of

t h e B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y a n d t h e B r a n c h A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y was

f i r s t , t h a t w a s improperly const i tuted t h e Branch Council a s a t Eecember 1980/January 1981

so tha t the appoin tment by the Branch

C o u n c i l o f t h e R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e r who c o n d u c t e d t h e s u b - ~ e c t

e l e c t i o n was inva l id and second ly , t ha t t he Branch Council whlch

had adopted amendments to r e l evan t ru l e s du r ing t he yea r s up t o

1981 had been inva l id ly cons t l tu ted wi th the resu l t ha t such

amendments were i n v a l l d . These proceedings four remain

par t -heard. In addi t lon two fu r the r o rde r s -n i s i have r ecen t ly

been granted pursuant to s.141 of the Federal Act t o some of the

app l i can t s t he i n p re sen t i nqu i ry where ln fu r the r s e r ious

cha l lenges to the func t ioning of t he Branch and Its p rope r ty a re

ra i sed . Evidence in these two ma t t e r s has ye t t o be commenced.

The above does not purport t o be a d e t a i l e d summary of

t h e voluminous evidence glven In thls inqul ry and i n t h e o t h e r

13.

proceedings b u t i s simply an i troduction so t o speak t o

p a r t l c u l a r m a t t e r s which a r e d e a l t w i t h i n some d e t a l l h e r e a f t e r .

During the hea r ing o f a l l t hese p roceed ings It was appa ren t t o

t h e C o u r t t h a t i f e v e r t h e r e was a c a s e w h e r e a n a p p l i c a t i o n

under s .171D o f a "scheme" was necessary	of the Federal	Act seeking the approval by the Court
then th l s was t h a t c a s e ( c f . S h e r r i f

& Ors. -v- Townsend & Ors., ((1980) 46 F.L .R . 2 0 ) . From time t o

t ime dur ing i nd ica t ed the hear ing of the var ious mat te rs the C o u r t

th i s v l ew. B u t lt was the conten t ion of the appl icants

t h a t a n a p p l i c a t i o n u n d e r S . 1 7 1 D c o u l d n o t b e made because

Federa l ru le 12(5) contalned provisions which, so it w a s claimed,

w e r e e f f e c t i v e means by which the Federa l Execut ive o f the

organizat lon could amend the Branch r u l e s so a s t o e n a b l e t h e

Branch t o f u n c t i o n e f f e c t i v e l y ( s e e s . 1 7 1 D ) . This Federa l ru le i s

set o u t l a t e r h e r e i n .

The Cour t i s a w a r e o f t h e p r o b l e m s f o l l o w i n g t h e

dec i s ion o f t he Commonwealth Indus t r i a l Cour t i n Moore -v- Doyle

& Ors., ( 1 9 6 9 ) 1 5 F . L . R . 5 9 which ave confronted numerous

organizat ions regls tered under the Federal Act with branches in

New South Wales and/or South Australia which a re reg ls te red under

the r e spec t ive branches may be and often S t a t e Ac t s . The a c t s of branch of f ic la l s o f such

have been exposed to challenges under

ss.140 and 141 of the Federal Act by any member who 1 s reasonably

conversant wi th the pr inc ip les la ld down i n t h a t c a s e and who i s

aware the of nmerous adminis t ra t ive problems wlthin such

b r a n c h e s t h a t may h a v e a r i s e n a s a r e s u l t o f t h a t d e c l s l o n .

c

I r r e s p e c t l v e of the motives of such a member, he can brlng about

a s t a t e o f confronted a f f a i r s w h e r e t h e o f f i c i a l s o f s u c h a b r a n c h a r e

with proceedings in the Court . Such proceedings of

necess i ty may require thorough and l e n g t h y r e s e a r c h b e i n g f i r s t

made, followed b y lengthy and of ten complex ev ldence be ing

p r e s e n t e d t o t h e C o u r t , t he consequences o f wh ich may be t o

e f fec t ive ly b leed the branch of i t s f inances and also, because of

t h e time-consuming e l t h e r m a t e r i a l l y e f f o r t s weaken of t h e o f f i c i a l s o f t h e b r a n c h , t o

the branch or e f f e c t i v e l y d e s t r o y it.

In t h i s r e g a r d c e r t a i n of t h e p a r t i e s t o t h i s i n q u i r y

and cer ta ln respondents other the in proceedings being

r ep resen ta t ives of t h e Branch have challenged the standing of the

t h i r d named respondent, M r Pr ichard. An l s sue has been ra i sed as

t o whether he was and still i s e n t i t l e d t o be a member o f t h e

organiza t ion so a s t o have locus s tandi the var ious in

p r o c e e d i n g s . S e r l o u s q u e s t i o n s a s t o h i s c r e d i t i b i l i t y h a v e b e e n

r a i s e d . The Court 1s aware t h a t f o r some years up u n t i l 1980 M r

Prichard had t h a t i n September 1960 he had been employed a s a fu l l - t ime Branch organiser and

been dismissed from t h a t p o s i t i o n .

I t i s c l e a r t h a t h e i s the dominant appl icant of the group of

appl icants in the p roceedings . Of the app l i can t s he a lone has

taken an ac t lve in te res t in the p roceedings , a t tending Cour t on

a l l hea r ing days and i s obviously the person glving instruct ions

t o t h e c o n s t l t u t e d a p p l i c a n t s ' l e g a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . The Court a s p r e s e n t l y

i s aware t h a t h e , a s a member of the So-Jth Australian

Eranch of the Shop Ass i s t an t s Union, was a c t i v e i n a prolonged

15.

f a c t l o n a l f i g h t i n v o l v i n g t h e V i c t o r i a n b r a n c h o f t h e S h o p ,

D i s t r l b u t l v e and Allled Employees' Associatlon Australia f

during 1976-7. (c f . Lever idge & O r s . -v- Shop E i s t r i b u t l v e and

Al l i ed Employees' Association, ( 1 9 7 7 ) 31 FLR 385) .

In the present inquiry evidence has been led regarding

cer ta in conduct which on one view mlght support an allegation of an offence under a l leged to have been carr led c u t by Mr Prichard

the Federal Act having been committed by hlm. The Court has been

asked t o make c e r t a i n f i n d i n g s i n t h i s r e g a r d . The Court has a lso

b e e n a s k e d t o e x p r e s s i t s view i n r e g a r d t o t h e c r e d i t o f M r

P r i c h a r d . I n v i e w o f t h e f i n d i n g s a n d o r d e r s t h a t t h e C o u r t

p r o p o s e s t o make i n t h l s i n q u i r y a n d t h e f a c t t h a t t h e o t h e r

p r o c e e d l n g s r e f e r r e d t o a b o v e a r e s t i l l p a r t h e a r d t h e C o u r t

f e e l s t h a t no f ind ing o rbse rva t ions rega rd i n t o hese

questions should be made a t t h i s s t a g e b u t h a s a g r e e d t o make a

d e t e r m i n a t i o n a s t o h i s e l l g i b i l i t y f o r membership of t h e

o rgan iza t lon a s a t t he t ime o f nomina t ing a s a candidate i n t h e

s u b j e c t e l e c t i o n . Such determination is s e t o u t l a t e r h e r e l n .

POSITION GENERALLY OF "BRANCH" a s a t 20 January 1981

(1 )BRANCH COUNCILLORS

Both the certified r u l e s of t h e Branch the of

organlza t ion and t h e r e g l s t e r e d r u l e s o f t h e S t a t e Unlon then

provided that :

( i ) Sect ions may be es tab l i shed wi th in the Branch on an industry

o r l o c a l l t y b a s i s ( r . 2 1 ( a ) ) . Rule 21(b) provided that , subject

t o app rova l r u l e s and o f t he Branch Councll, Sectlons may frame t h e l r own

amend such ru les . Rule 2 1 ( d ) provlded that the var ious

Sections were t o e l e c t C o u n c l l l o r s and a l t e r n a t e C o u n c i l l o r s a s

required by r.15 in accordance with the rules of the Sec t ion .

Ru le 32(b) provided that Counci l lors were t o be e lec ted annual ly

and hold J anua ry off ice unt i l their successors were e l e c t e d . A s a t 20

1981 t h e r e w e r e 9 Sec t ions wi th in the Branch none o f

which had any rules whlch had been ce r t i f i ed o r r eg i s t e red unde r

e i t h e r t h e F e d e r a l A c t o r t h e S t a t e A c t o r o t h e r w i s e a d o p t e d

making provis ions for the procedure for such e lec t ions .

( i i ) R u l e 14 made provis ion for a Branch Council and provlded t h a t

t he P res iden t , Ass is tan t Secre ta ry sha l l Deputy President , Vice-Presldent , Secretary and

be t h e o f f i c e r s o f t h e Union.

( i i i ) R u l e 15 provided that he Branch Council s h a l l c o n s i s t o f

the Off icers toge ther wi th Counci l lors e lec ted by the Sec t ions on

a b a s l s of a c e r t a i n number o f Counci l lors for the number of

members wlthin each Section. As a t 2 0 January 1981 1 4 Counci l lors

represented the 9 Sec t ions .

(2)BRANCH SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT BRANCH SECRETARY

A s a t 20 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 1 t h e c e r t i f i e d B r a n c h r u l e s

provlded tha t the Secre ta ry and t h e A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r y s h a l l b e

.

.

1 7 .

e l ec t ed by t h e Branch Council and s h a l l h o l d o f f i c e f o r a term of

s i x y e a r s ( r r . 2 4 and 2 5 ) . BJ t t he ho lde r s o f bo th these o f f i ces a t

t h a t d a t e had been elected in February 1978, purportedly for a

period of 6 y e a r s i n an elect ion wherein any necessa ry ba l lo t was

t o be a p o s t a l b a l l o t o f t h e w h o l e o f t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e

Branch. Thls had come about as a r e s u l t o f amendments t o both

r .24 and J a n u a r y 1 9 7 6 w h e r e b y s u c h e l e c t i o n s w e r e r . 2 5 o f t h e B r a n c h r u l e s b y the t o b e r a n k a n d f i l e Branch Counc i l In

e l e c t i o n s i n l i e u o f t h e c o l l e g i a t e e l e c t i o n . The te rm of

o f f i c e had not been amended a t t h a t t i m e a s t h e amendment t o

s .133(1) o f the Federa l Act by t he In se r t ion o f pa ra s . (da ) and

(db ) d id not come i n t o f o r c e u n t i l J u l y 1976. The sa id amendments

adopted January in 1976 had been forwarded by the Branch

Secretary for approval by the Federal Executive In the usual way

b u t a s no approval had been for thcoming a t t h a t t i m e t h e

amendment had n o t b e e n c e r t i f i e d b y t h e I n d u s t r i a l Registrar

under S . l 3 9 ( 4 ) . The amendment had In fact been approved by the

Sou th Aus t r a l i an Indus t r i a l Reg i s t r a r and had become p a r t o f t h e

r e g i s t e r e d r u l e s o f t h e S t a t e Unlon and had accordingly been

p r i n t e d i n t h e Branch rule book. The procedure for the rank and

f i l e e l e c t i o n was p r o v i d e d f o r i n r . 3 1 . Such procedure made

p rov i s ion fo r a p o s t a l b a l l o t . R1Jle 31 had been common to bo th

s e t s o f r u l e s f o r many years , it belng the procedure provlded for

i n t h e (o ther Branch r u l e book f o r t h e e l e c t i o n of t h e Branch Gf f l ce r s

than Federal Councl l lors . the Secre ta ry and the Ass i s t an t Sec re t a ry ) and t h e

18.

(3)BRANCH OFFICERS (OTHER THAN SECRETARY & ASSISTANT SECRETARY)

AND FEDERAL 1 9 January 1981 COUNCILLORS - R u l e s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e i r e l e c t i o n a s a t

Rule 30 of both the Branch r u l e s and t h e S t a t e Union

r u l e s were i d e n t i c a l and provided that nominat ions for an

e l e c t i o n o f t h e s e o f f i c e r s w e r e t o b e c a l l e d n o t l a t e r t h a n

February every third year. Nominations had been called for the

f i l l i n g o f t h e s e o f f i c e s i n 1978.

R u l e 31 of b o t h s e t s o f r u l e s made p rov i s ion fo r t he

procedure for such election which ex fac ie provided for a p o s t a l

b a l l o t w i t h i n t h e meaning of that expression i n the Federal Act.

A s r . 3 l ( g ) ( i v ) p r o v l d e d ( i n t e r a l i a ) t h a t h e b a l l o t

pape r i n a n y e l e c t i o n f o r t h e s e o f f i c e s b e e n d o r s e d w i t h t h e

following printed thereon:

"Thls number i s for the purpose of

prevent ing any i r regular i ty .

N o :

A l l ballot papers have been so shuff led

t h a t l d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f a n y number with

any person YOUR VOTE IS SECRET. 'I is impossible.

it was contended that any bal lot conducted under that rule would

not be a Federal Act)(emphasis added). This s e c r e t p o s t a l b a l l o t ( s e e s . l 3 3 ( l ) ( d ) and s.133AA of t h e

i s d i s c u s s e d l a t e r h e r e m .

c

19.

B u t a s a t 1 9 January 1981 r .31(a) as reg is te red and

certified t h e i n r s p e c t i v e s t s of r u l e s was m a t e r i a l l y

d i f f e r e n t .	The	c e r t i f i e d	r u l e	of t h e Branch	of	t he	o rgan lza t ion
read :

31(a ) Nominations i n wri t ing s igned by

t h e candidate and endorsed by 2

f i n a n c i a l members m u s t be in the hands

o f t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r b y n o t l a t e r

3rd than the Monday January" in

(emphasis added) .

The s u b - r u l e a d v e r t i s e m e n t t h e n p r o v i d e d f o r t h e c a l l i n g o f n o m i n a t i o n s b y

i n a da i ly newspape r and fo r a b a l l o t w h e r e

necessary.

Rule 31(a) o f the S t3 te Union r u l e s on t h e o t h e r hand

p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e n o m i n a t i o n s h a d t o be i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e

Return ing Off icer by the th i rd Monday in February and t h a t where

t h e R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e r f i n d s a n o m i n a t i o n t o be d e f e c t i v e h e

sha l l , before concerned of the defect. re jec t ing the nominat ion , no t i fy the p rson

Amendments t o s .31 (a ) a l t e r ing t he sub - ru l e t o r ead a s

r e g i s t e r e d i n t h e S t a t e Union r u l e s had been adopted by the

Branch Council i n January 1976. The purpose for the changing of

"January" t o "February" came a b o u t a s a r e s u l t t h e o f

d i f f i c u l t l e s r e f e r r e d t o e a r l i e r h e r e i n w h i l s t t h e amendment i n

r e s p e c t o f d e f e c t s i n a nomination was ObViOllSly brought about by

t h e i n s e r t i o n Federal Act In 1973. of t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f p a r a . ( c ) t o S .133(1) of the

Here aga in , the amendment had been forwarded

to the Federa l Secre ta ry for approval by the Federal Executive.

20.

Such approval not being forthcoming, the amendment was not lodged

f o r c e r t i f i c a t i o n b y t h e I n d u s t r l a l R e g i s t r a r .

Accordingly it w i l l be seen tha t the Branch Council a s

a t 20 January 1981 consisted of :

( a ) The Branch Secre ta ry and Ass i s t an t Branch

Secretary who had been elected i n February

1978 f o r a period of s i x y e a r s a t a time when

t h e F e d e r a l A c t p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e maximum

term of such offices shall not exceed 4 y e a r s

( s . 1 3 3 ( 1 ) ( d b ) ) . I n f a c t b o t h o f f i c e r s had

been elected UnOFpOSed, nominations having

been cal led for under the procedures for a

p o s t a l b a l l o t l a i d down i n r .31 of the then

r e g i s t e r e d S t a t e Union Rules appearing i n t h e

Branch r u l e book a s used by t h e o f f l c i a l s o f

t h e Branch in 1976.

( b ) The Branch Pres ident , Branch Deputy

Pres ident , and t h e Branch Vice-President who

h a d b e e n e l e c t e d f o r a term of 3 y e a r s i n

1978 under rr.30 and 31.

( c ) Some 1 4 Counci l lors "e lec ted" i n 198'2.

These persons were clearly the holders of "an

o f f i c e " w i t h i n t h e m e a n i n g o f " o f f i c e " a s

def ined i n s . 4 of the Federal Act. B u t none

of the 1 4 Counci l lors had been elected under

r u l e s c e r t i f i e d b y t h e I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r

which complied with the F deral Act or

r e g . l 1 5 ( l ) ( d ) made under tha t Act .

APPOINTMENT O F RETURNING OFFICER FOR SUBJECT ELECTION

The evidence i s t h a t a M r Crimes who had been appointed

Branch Returning Off icer by the Branch Councll some years before

1981 had advised the Branch Secretary before Chrlstmas 1980 t h a t

b e c a u s e h e was t a k i n g h i s v a c a t l o n i n March 1981 he would be

unable to conduct the 1981 t r iennia l Off icers e lec t ion .

21.

On 2 C J anua ry 1981 t ha t Branch Counc i l adop ted a

r e s o l u t i o n a p p o i n t i n g a Mr R . D . C larke the Branch Return ing

Of f i ce r . On 2 1 January 1981 M r Krantz as Branch Secretary wrote

t o M r Clarke as fol lows:

" M r R . D. Clarke,

1 5 Richman Avenue,

PROSPECT. S.A. 5062

Dear Ralph,

The Branch Council a t i t s mee t ing l a s t

n i g h t a p p o i n t e d you t o be the Branch

Returning Officer accordance in with

Rule 1 6 ( 1).

Rule 16( j) reads:-

"It shal l provided by these appoint he Returning Cff lcer

who sha l l no t be the ho lde r o f an o f f i ce

ru l e s no r an employee

of t h e Union."

and you a re e l ig ib l e fo r appo in tmen t i n

accordance with the r u l e .

The immediate duty wlll b e t o c o n d u c t

t he 1981 e l ec t ion o f o f f i c e r s r e q u i r e d

by Branch Rules 30 and 31, and I am sure

you w i l l s t eps necessa ry to f o r t h w i t h p u t I n t r a i n t h e

do t h i s .

The Branch Counc i l a l so d i r ec t ed me a s

S e c r e t a r y t o ,make arrangements for any

a s s i s t a n c e needed by Returning the

the conduct ing the e lec t ion .	for	i s	o f
With	best wishes,

Off icer purpose

Yours f a i t h f u l l y ,

( signed)

H. D. Krantz,

SECRETARY"

Rule 16 of t he Branch r u l e s s e t s o u t h e powers and

d u t i e s o f t h e B r a n c h C o u n c i l . R u l e 1 6 ( j ) q u o t e d i n t h e a b o v e

2 2 .

l e t t e r was t h e n t h e s u b - r u l e a s r e g i s t e r e d i n t h e S t a t e Union

r u l e s . I t had been amended pursuant o an amendment adopted by

t h e Branch Council i n January 1976 , a p p a r e n t l y t o conform with

the provis ions of s .133(1) (b) of the Federal Act which came i n t o

f o r c e i n 1 9 7 3 . H e r e a g a i n t h e amendment was o n e o f t h o s e

forwarded by t h e Branch Sec re t a ry to the Fede ra l Sec re t a ry o f t he

organization for approval by the Federal Executive which approval

a s a t fo l lowing 20 January 1981, had no t been for thcoming. Again ,

t he r eg i s t r a t ion o f t he amendment t o r . 1 6 ( j ) by t he

South Aus t ra l ian Indus t r ia l Regis t ra r it had been inser ted in the

r ep r in t ed Branch r u l e book i n use by the Off lc ia l s of the Branch .

I n f a c t r .16( j ) o r g a n i z a t i o n a s a t o f t h e c e r t i f i e d r u l e s o f t h e B r a n c h o f t h e

2 0 J a n u a r y 1 9 8 1 p r o v i d e d s i m p l y t h a t t h e

Branch Council "shall appoint the Returning Officers, Audltors

and Tyl e r " .

Clear ly the ru les of the Branch of t he o rgan iza t ion a s

c e r t i f i e d u n d e r t h e F e d e r a l A c t as a t J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 1

contravened paras . (b) and ( c ) o f S .133(1) which p rov ide tha t t he

r u l e s o r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r s . f o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n c l u d e c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s I n r e spec t o f

AMENDMENT TO BRANCH R. 3 1 ( a ) C E R T I F I E D 2 3 JANUARY 1981 RE C L O S I N G

DATE O F NOMINATIONS I N SUBJECT ELECTION

A s po in t ed ou t ea r l i e r he re ln the p r in t ed ru l e book i n

use by t he Of f i c i a l s o f t he Branch i n January 1981 provided i n

*'

c ..

23.

r . 31 (a ) t ha t nomina t ions fo r t he f i l l i ng o f t he o f f l ces i n t he

s u b j e c t e l e c t i o n were t o be in the hands of the Returning Off icer

b y t h e t h i r d Monday in February. How t h i s came about has a l ready

been discussed. o r g a n i z a t i o n a s a t But c e r t i f i e d r u l e 31 (a ) of t h e Branch of the

20 January 1981 provlded that such nominations

were	t o c l o s e	on	t h e	t h l r d	Monday i n January namely lSth	January
1981.

Fo l lo 881 o f t he r eg i s t e r of the o rgan iza t ion he ld by

the Indus t r i a l Reg i s t r a r i n c l u d e s a S ta tu tory Geclara t ion of the

Branch Secre ta ry dec lared 23 January 1981. This f o l i o d e a l s w i t h

t h e amendment t o r . 3 1 ( a ) o f t h e c e r t i f i e d r u l e s o f t h e Branch o f

the o rganlza t ion . The sa id dec l a ra t ion shows t h a t on 20 January

1981 the Federal Secretary of the organizat ion submlt ted for the

a p p r o v a l o f t h e F e d e r a l E x e c u t i v e o f t h e o r g a n l z a t l o n , t h e

amendment t o r . 31 ( a ) which ( i n t e r a l i a ) amended the day fo r t he

c l o s i n g o f n o m i n a t i o n s f o r r e s p e c t l v e o f f i c e s f r o m t h e t h i r d

Monday i n amendment adopted by t h e Branch J a n u a r y t o t h e t h i r d klonday i n November in February. This was t h e

1 9 7 5 and which ad

been forwarded by the Branch Sec re t a ry t o t he Fede ra l Sec re t a ry

of t he o rgan iza t ion on 25 February 1976 for the approval o f the

Federal Executive. The amendment was i d e n t i c a l t o t h a t whlch had

been reg is te red by the South Austral ian Regis t rar In January 1976

and s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r p r i n t e d i n t h e Branch r u l e book.

After the amendment had been submitted by the Federal

Secretary to the Federal Execut lve for approval on 2 0 January

c

24.

1981 the same was formally approved by that body on 2 2 January

1981 and then lodged with the Industrial Reglstrar together with

t h e s a i d S t a t u t o r y D e c l a r a t i o n o f t h e B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y o n 23

January 1961. On t h a t d a y t h e I n d u s t r i a l R e g l s t r a r c e r t i f i e d t h e

amendment and advised the Branch Sec re t a ry acco rd ing ly by l e t t e r

dated 23 January 1981.

NOMINATIONS OF APPLICANTS LODGED ON 1 6 JANUARY 1981

Apparently M r Prichard and t h e o t h e r a p p l i c a n t s h e r e i n

were aware on 1 5 Janua ry 1981 t ha t he ce r t i f i ed ru l e s o f t he

Branch provided on 1 9 January 1981. By 1 6 January that nominat ions for the subject off ices c losed

1981 each of the appl icants

o ther than Mr Bailey, the slxth-named applicant, had forwarded to

the Return ing Off icer care of the Union Off ice by cer t i f ied mai l

so c a l l e d n o m i n a t i o n s f o r t h e o f f i c e s o f P r e s l d e n t , D e p u t y

President, Vice-President and the t h ree Fede ra l Counc i l lo r s i n

the "Federated Clerks Union Austral ia of South Austral lan

Branch". The e v i d e n c e d i s c l o s e s t h a t t h e s e n o m i n a t i o n s w e r e

received within sa id of f ices been ca l led for by a Branch Returning Offlcer. the Branch on Friday, 16 January 1981. A t no

t ime immediately prior to 19 January 1981 had nominations for the

On 2 1 Janua ry 1981 Mr P r i c h a r d w r o t e t o t h e E r a n c h

Secre ta ry as fo l lows : -

25.

“Dear S i r ,

A s you would be aware, nominations for

P r e s i d e n t ,	p o s i t i o n s	o f	t h e
Deputy-President, Vice-President and
three Federa l Counci l lors the o f
Federated Clerks‘ Union of Aus t r a l i a
South Australian Branch were t o be
ca l led under l a t e r t han the 5 th Janua ry th i s yea r the S .A . Branch r u l e s n o t

and

c l o s e d n o t l a t e r t h a n t h e t h i r d Monday

in January 1981.

I a l o n g w i t h nominat ions 5 o t h e r members s e n t o u r

in by c e r t l f l e d m a l l on the

15th January pos ted a t 2 p.m., t o both

r e g i s t e r e d o f f i c e s . We f e e l t h a t t h i s

a l l o w e d r e a s o n a b l e t i m e f o r t h e v a l l d

nominations t o a r r i v e b e f o r e t h e c l o s e

o f n o m i n a t i o n s o n t h e t h i r d Monday i n

Janua ry o f t h i s yea r i . e . 19 th .

A s a consequence , we would seek your

co-operation in the followlng:

( i ) A t t h e c l o s e o n Monday t h e 1 9 t h

January 1981, nominations beside were there any other

my own and t h a t of Mr

M . K n i g h t Vice-President f o r P r e s i d e n t , Miss H l b b e r t

for Deputy-Presldent, myself for

with M r Robertson, M r

Higgins,	Mrs	Myers	for	Federal
Councillor S?

( i i ) I f n o t - w e a r e l e d t o b e l i e v e

t h a t w e a s t he e l ec t ed (unopposed) new

S.A. Branch executive would r e s p e c t f u l l y

reques t you to cons ide r a l l owing u s t o

u s e t h e c o n f e r e n c e room f o r o u r n e x t

m e e t i n g o f t h e new e x e c u t i v e o f t h e

South Australlan Branch of t h e

Federat ion af ter the 26th January.

We a p p r e c i a t e t h a t y o u h a v e p e r m i t t e d

o the r Unions and a s a consequence, we t o u s e t h e f a c i l i t i e s t h e r e

w i t h r e s p e c t

make o u r r e q u e s t i n t h a t l i g h t .

In addi t ion , we a l s o a p p r e c i a t e t h e f a c t

t h a t you have your own s t a t e r e g i s t e r e d

u n i o n e l e c t l o n s i n F e b r u a r y t h i s y e a r

and therefore the conference room may be

i n u s e . I f so, we would be on ly too

happy with a s i m l l a r a r e a .

F i n a l l y a s a cour tesy t o you, I

. 26.

r e s p e c t f u l l y a d v l s e t h a t I have not i f ied

the Federal Reglstrar of our nomlnations

under the Rules of the South Australlan

B r a n c h o f t h e F e d e r a t i o n . F u r t h e r , I

a l so have copies a to o id confus ion , sen t

of t h i s l e t t e r t o a l l o t h e r

o f f i c e r s and counc i l lo r s .

I also have Pres ident and Secretary. because w e a r e a branch of

the Federa l not unreasonable to Body, no t i f i ed t he Fede ra l

We thought it

do t h i s .

Yours f r a t e r n a l l y ,

( s igned)

Michael A. Pr ichard."

On 4 February 1981 the Branch Secretary forwarded a

memo t o t h e Branch "To : BRANCH RETURNING OFFICER Dear Mr Clarke, Returning Off icer as fol lows : -

You w i l l r e c a l l appolnted you Returning t h a t t h e Branch Council

Officer a t i t s

meeting on the 20th of January las t and

on the subsequent day I informed you i n

writing of your appointment.

O n F r i d a y 1 6 t h J a n u a r y , I s i g n e d t w o

A.R. c e r t i f i ed ma i l add res sed a s

follows : -

( a ) The Returning Offlcer

Federated Clerks '	Unlon	of
Aus t r a l i a

South Australian Branch

c/- 1 2 Regent S t r e e t ,

ADELAIDE, S.A. 5000

(b) The Returning Officer

Federated Clerks '	Unlon	o f
Aus t r a l i a

South Australian Eranch

c/- Reids B'lilding

King Wil l iam Street ,

AOEIAJ.DE, S . A . 5000

'0

b

27.

Both envelopes contained what purport t o

be nomlnatlons for e l e c t l o n a n f

o f f i c e r s p o s i t i o n s des igna ted i n which are

in the nomlnations.

In accordance with the rules , you have

taken the nominatlons which proper s t e p s t o c a l l for

close o n t h e 1 6 t h i n s t

and I r e f e r the above mentioned

documents t o you for your a t t en t ion .

You w i l l r e c a l l t h a t Branch the

Execu t ive was a u t h o r i s e d t o g i v e you

such a s s i s t ance a s you need t o c a r r y o u t

your d u t i e s would deslre Counsel' S advice, and i f you c o n s i d e r y o u

I b e l i e v e

you should speak t o Mr Paul

Heywood-Smith	who	i s	t h e	Union' S
adv i se r .

( s igned)

n m 4/2/81"

RELEVANT STEPS TAKEN I N SUBJECT ELECTION

20 January 1981

Branch Council appolnts W Clarke

Returning Officer (see above) .

22 January 1981

Returning Officer n o t i f i e d S e c t i o n

s e c r e t a r i e s a n d B r a n c h C o u n c i l l o r s b y

l e t t e r of t h e e l e c t i o n and enclosed copy

of advert isement he intended to place In

the "Advertiser" on Saturday 24 January.

24 January 1981

Nominations called for in adver t i sement

i n " A d v e r t i s e r " o f 2 4 J a n u a r y . S u c h

advertisement i s headed :

"Federated Clerks Union of Aus t r a l i a

South Austral ian Branch"

T h e r e a f t e r i s s e t o u t t h e r e s p e c t l v e

o f f i c e s , the f a c t t h a t o n l y f l n a n c i a l

members of twe lve mon ths s t and lng may

nominate and that nominat ions required

endorsement by two f i n a n c i a l members and

t h a t t h e same had to be in the hands of

the Return ing Off lcer by no t l a te r than

5 p .m. on 16 February 1981. The t h l r d

Monday i n February	1961	w a s	16	February
1 9 6 1 .

c

28.

6 February 1981

The R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e r w r i t e s t o t h e 6

p e r s o n s , 5 o f whom a r e t h e a p p l i c a n t s

h e r e i n , who had lodged the so c a l l e d

nominations with "the Returning Officer"

on 1 6 J a n u a r y 1 5 8 1 r e f e r r e d t o a b o v e ,

i n fo rming them tha t he had had passed

o n t o him t h e l r r e s p e c t i v e n o m i n a t i o n s

and poin t ing o u t t o them t h a t t h e

documents were c a l l i n g o f n o m i n a t i o n s a n d r e q u e s t i n g dated p r i o r t o the

confirmation that e ch intended to

nrnninate i n t h e a d v e r t i s e d e l e c t i o n f o r

t h e r e s p e c t i v e o f f i c e s r e f e r r e d t o	i n
t h e i r documents.

16 February 1981

The R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e r n e x t h e a r s f r o m

those 6 persons on 1 6 February 1981 when each of them lodges a nomination for a

pa r t i cu la r o f f i ce m n t ioned i n t h e

advertisement b u t s t i p u l a t i n g t h e r e i n

tha t nominat ion the was f o r t h a t

p a r t i c u l a r o f f i c e Registered Union. i n S t a t t h e

In addi t ion each

p e r s o n s e n d s s i m i l a r l e t t e r s d a t e d 1 6

F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 1 t o h i m . A copy of such

n o m i n a t i o n a n d l e t t e r f o r w a r d e d b y M r

Prichard reads :

"The Returning Federated Clerks ' Gf f i c e r " ,

Mr R . Aus t r a l i a Clarke,

Union of

(S ta t e r eg . un ion )

1 2 , Regent S t r e e t ,

ADELAIDE, S . A . 5000

Dear S i r ,

Re:Nominations e l e c t i o n s for the 1981

i n t h e S t a t e

Reglstered Union f o r t h e

pos i t l ons o f PRESIDENT,

DEPUTY-PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT,

SECRETARY and ASSISTANT SECRETARY

I, Michael nominate i n accordance Anthony Prichard hereby

with rule 31 of

t h e r u l e s ,	f o r	t h e p o s i t i o n	of	Deputy
Pres ident .

Slgned .......

We.. ... and ..... being f i n a n c i a l

members of the Federa ted Clerks ' Union

S o u t h Australian Br ch - s t a t e

r eg i s t e red union - endorse the

nomination Mlchael accordance with of Prlchard I n

r u l e 31 of t h e r u l e s for

the p o s i t l o n o f Deputy P r e s i d e n t i n t h e

e lect ions f o r t h e O f f i c e r s Signed ........ . Signed ........ ... of t h e Union.

The le t ter dated 1 6 February reads:

"The Return ing Of f i ce r ,

M r R. Clarke ,

Federated Clerks ' Union o f

A u s t r a l i a ( S t a t e reg. union)

1 2 , Regent S t r e e t ,

ADELAIDE. S . A . 5000

Dear S i r ,

Please be advised tha t the nomination by

m e for t h e p o s i t i o n of Vice-President i n

t h e FEDERATED CLERKS' U N I O N OF AUSTRALIA

South Australian accordance Branch, wa S i n

with the regis tered ru les of

t h e South Australian Branch and a

correct v a l i d nomination as they c losed

on the t h i r d Monday i n JANUARY, i . e .

5.00 p . m . , t he 19 th . 81.

Five other nominations p l u s my own were received a t t h e Union o f f i c e o n or

a r o u n d t h e 1 6 t h JANUARY 81 s e n t i n b y

c e r t i f l e d m a i l .	The	nominations	were
unopposed!

I a n d been elected unopposed t o t h e posi t ions t h e f i v e o t h e r s t h e r e f o r e h a v e

of PRESIDENT, Deputy-President,

V i c e - P r e s i d e n t , a n d t h e t h r e e F e d e r a l

Counci l lors of t h e FEDERATED CLERKS I

U N I O N AUSTRALIA OF South Australian

Branch. The f a c t t h a t t h e F e d e r a l

Reg i s t r a r r eg l s t e red new a r u l e i n

r e s p e c t t o nominat ions for the Union on

the 23rd JANUARY 81, does n o t have any

e f fec t u n t i l t h e 1984 Branch electlons.

We a r e t h e r e f o r e e l e c t e d u n t l l F e b r u a r y ,

1984!

L

h

30.

It i s w i t h o u t p r e ~ u d l c e t o my successfu l

South Australlan Branch nominatlon and

my e l e c t i o n a s V i c e - P r e s l d e n t t h a t I

have much p l e a s u r e i n a t t a c h i n g t o t h i s

l e t t e r a nominat ion for the pos i t ion of

Deputy-President i n yo u r STATE

r e g l s t e r e d u n i o n a s a d v e r t i s e d o n	t h e
24th January by you.

Whilst I a p p r e c i a t e t h a t you a r e n o t t h e

r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r f o r t h e F E K M T E D

CLERKS' UNION O F AUSTRALIA South

Australian Branch, I have a t tached a l so

a copy of the Branch r u l e s information. c e r t i f i e d b y

t h e Geputy I n d u s t r i a l R e g i s t r a r i n

MELBOURNE, f o r your

Yours f r a t e r n a l l y ,

( s igned)

C . C .	To
Fed To Fed Pres ident" Sec re t a ry

1 7 February 1981

The Returning Officer writes t o each of

5 of those in the (b1ank)wi th the pa r t i cu la r o f f i ce 6 p e r s o n s a s f o l l o w s , f i l l i n g

t o which each claimed he	or	she had been
e l ec t ed .

"Sent to : Mr M . Prichard

M r A. Robertson

Mr F. Higgins

M/s M . Hibbert

M.s L. Myers

Dear

I r e f e r February where ln t o my l e t t e r t o you o f t he 6 th

I c a l l e d upon you t o

confirm to me that nominat ions received

a t t h e o f f i c e s o f t h e F e d e r a t e d C l e r k s

Unlon Austral ia , of South Austral ian

Branch p r i o r t o my appointment as

Returning Officer on 29th( s ic ) January ,

1981 were adver t i sed b y me neve r the l e s s fo r t he pos i t i ons

i n the "Advert lser" on

24/1/81.

I have now rece ived your l e t te r o f the

31.

1 6 t h F e b r u a r y h a n d d e l i v e r e d t o me a t

about 4.00 p.m. on t h e same day. I t i s

apparent from the contents your of

l e t t e r t h a t your previous nommation was

not for the pos i t ion adver t i sed by me. I

s h a l l t r e a t it accordingly.

A s t o the purported fur ther nominat lon

received by d e f e c t i v e i n t h e f o l l o w i n g me on the 16th February, I

f i n d s u c h p u r p o r t e d n o m i n a t i o n t o b e

ways:

( a ) it i s accompanied by a l e t t e r

a s s e r t i n g t h a t you a re l r eady

e l ec t ed t he Federated Clerks (b lank) a s of t h e

Union o f A u s t r a l i a ,

South Australian Branch.

( b ) t h e same accompanying l e t t e r

a s s e r t s t h a t I am n o t the Returning

Off icer the F derated of Clerks

Union	of Austral ia , South Austral ian
Branch.

(c ) the nominat ion makes r e fe rence

t o a body e n t i t l e d " S t a t e R e g i s t e r e d

Union". I fo r o f f i ce r s i n the Fede ra t ed C le rks am ca l l ing for nominat ions

Union	of Austral ia , South Austral ian
Branch.

(d) the nominat ion asser t s tha t it

i s i n r e s p e c t o f a n e l e c t i o n f o r

o f f i ce r s i n Secre ta ry o f lud ing t hose

and Ass is tan t Secre ta ry

which p o s i t i o n s a r e n o t up f o r

e l e c t i o n a t t h i s t i m e .

( e ) a l l of the above defects combine

t o make it c l e a r t o me t h a t you a r e

not nominat ing for the posi t ions

advert ised by me on 24th the

January, 1981.

Pu r suan t t o Ru le 3 l ( a ) ( i i ) o f t he Ru les

the Federated of Clerks ' Unlon of

Austral ia , South Austral ian Branch I

h e r e b y n o t i f y o u o f t h e d e f e c t . I

hereby a l so g lve you t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

remedy the de fec t w i th in 7 days of

t o d a y ' s d a t e by f i l l l n g i n and re turn ing

t o me the enclosed nomlnation form whlch

1s a form commonly used i n p r e v i o u s

Eranch Elec t lons .

.

. 32.

I m u s t s i m i l a r a d v i s e t h a t u n l e s s t h a t form o r a

unobjectionable form i s

comple ted and rece ived by me by 5 . 0 0

p.m. on Wednesday, 25th February I s h a l l

not regard you a s b e i n g a person who has

nominated fo r any pos i t i on t he i n

elect ion being conducted by m e .

Yours f a i t h f u l l y ,

R. D . Clarke,

RETURNING OFFICER"

A s i m i l a r l e t t e r was s e n t t o Mr Knight the second named

appl icant herein by the Returning Off icer .

24 February 1981

The Returning Off icer receives

n o m i n a t i o n s f r o m e a c h o f t h e s a i d 6

persons for a p a r t i c u l a r o f f i c e t h e

e l e c t i n o m i n a t i o n s t h e o rde r . s u b j e c t o f n . Such

a r e a c c e p t e d a s b e i n g i n

A s more than the required number of nominations were

r ece ived in r e spec t o f each o f t he va r ious o f f i ces a b a l l o t was

requi red . Such b a l l o t opened on 16 March 1981 and closed on 30

March, the Return ing Off icer dec la r ing the pol l on 2 April 1981.

The vot ing in respec t of t h e v a r i o u s o f f i c e s a s shown

in the Return ing Off icer ' S r e p o r t i s a s fo l lows :

.

. 33.

Pres ident Deputy Pres ldent

Knlqht, M . J . E30 Fellowes, A . 1352

Viergever,G.L 1287 Pr ichard, M.A. 762

Informal 49 Informal 52

Vice Presldent Federal Councillors

Robertson,A.M 501 Haseldlne, L . R . 1659

Summerton, P. D. 1614 Hibbert , M . F . 689

Informal 51 Higgins, F.W. 504

Krantz , H. D. 1698

Lesses , J . K. 1536

Myers , L. J. 840

Informal 44

T h e s e f i g u r e s show t h a t o f t h e 4383 b a l l o t p a p e r s

i s s u e d t h e r e t u r n (2166) was approximately 49.5%.

E L I G I B I L I T Y RULE

A t r e l e v a n t i m e s t h e e l i g i b i l i t y r u l e a s r e g i s t e r e d

wi th the S ta t e Indus t r i a l Reg i s t r a r and t h a t a s c e r t i f i e d b y t h e

Fede ra l Indus t r i a l Reg i s t r a r were d i f f e r e n t . As a r e s u l t , t h e

appl lcants have c la imed that some two hundred persons may have

r ece lved ba l lo t pape r s In t he sub jec t e l ec t ion who, under the

F e d e r a l e l i g i b i l i t y r u l e , were n o t e n t i t l e d t o b e members o f t h e

organiza t ion b u t who may have been en t i t l ed to be members of the

S t a t e Union. c o n s i d e r i n g t h e e l i g i b i l i t y o f The d i f f e r e n c e may a l s o be r e l evan t when

M r P r lchard to be a member of the

organiza t ion . A s t h e C o u r t unders tands the pos i t ion the

d i f f e r e n c e be tween the r e spec t lve e l lg ib i l l t y ru l e s may not have

a r i s e n a s a r e s u l t o f t h e l a c k o f a p p r o v a l b y t h e F e d e r a l

Executive to an amendment adopted by t h e Branch Council a s was

the case i n r e spec t o f o the r amendments t o t h e r u l e s a d o p t e d by

. .

34.

the Branch Counci l I n 1975/1976. The e l i g i b i l i t y r u l e o f t h e

Branch of the organization could not have been wlder than that of

t he o rgan iza t ion a s reg i s t e red w i th Fede ra l e Indus t r i a l

Reg i s t r a r ( f ede ra l r . 1 2 ( 2 ) ) .

I n f a c t t h e c e r t i f l e d e l i g i b i l i t y r u l e o f t h e Branch of

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a t a l l r e l e v a n t t i m e s was I d e n t i c a l w i t h t h a t o f

t he f ede ra l o rgan iza t ion and reads:-

“ 2 . CONSTITUTION

The Union s h a l l c o n s i s t o f a l l p e r s o n s

engaged i n any c l e r i ca l capac i ty , and /o r

engaged in the occupation of shorthand

w r i t e r s and typ i s t s and /o r on

ca l cu la t ing , b i l l i ng , o r o the r mach ines

d e s i g n e d p e r f o r m t o a s s i s t o r i n

c ler lcal whatsoever. “ performing any work

The r e g i s t e r e d e l i g i b i l i t y r u l e o f t h e S t a t e R e g l s t e r e d

Union a t r e l evan t t imes r eads : -

“ 2 . CONSTITUTION

The a s s o c i a t i o n s h a l l c o n s i s t o f a n y

person male or female

( a ) engaged about o r in an of f lce .

Wi thou t l imi t ing t he gene ra l i t y o f t he

foregoing shal l include: any person so engaged

(i) i n any c l e r i c a l c a p a c i t y .

( i l l e i t h e r w h o l l y or p a r t i a l l y i n t h e

occupat ions of shor thand wr i te r , typ is t ,

t e l e p r i n t e r o p e r a t o r , addressing machine

o p e r a t o r , d i c t a t i o n machine operator,

o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t t h e r e may b e members I n t h i s c a t e g o r y . O f

51.

course the Court does not know of any recent re levant amendments

t o r u l e s d e a l l n g w i t h t h e amoun t o f subsc r ip t lons payab le b y

members which have i n f a c t been c e r t i f l e d under the Federal Act.

The C o u r t 1s aware t h a t an e lec t lon for the Off icers

and Federal Counci l lors of the Branch of the organization is due

t o be h e l d i n on 30 September 1981 and t h a t August 1983 i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h r . 3 0 ( a ) ( i ) c e r t l f i e d

t h e Branch has made a reques t o f

t he F

de ra l conducted pursuant to Indus t r i a l Reg i s t r a r fo r t ha t e l ec t ion t o be

s.170 of the Federal Act.

ENDORSEMENT (INCLUDING	A NUMBER) ON EVERY BALLOT PAPER IN	THE
SUBJECT ELECTION

Ru le 31 (g ) ( iv ) o f t he ce r t i f l ed r u l e s of the 6ranch of

t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , provides p a r t o f w h i c h i s s e t o u t e a r l i e r h e r e l n

that every bal lot paper shal l have pr inted thereon a

number consecutive from number one together with the endorsement

which i s set t ing out the endorsement then reads: set o u t e a r l i e r h e r e i n . The paragraph of t h e r u l e a f t e r

"The ba l lo t pape r sha l l be shu f f l ed so

t h a t t h e number on a ba l lo t paper cannot

ident i f ied be any with member".

In f ac t s u b l e c t e l e c t i o n each o f t he 4500 b a l l o t p a p e r s p r i n t e d f o r u s e i n t h e

was endorsed as follows:

"This number 1s fo r ( s i c ) pu rpose of preventing

any i r r e g u l a r i t y .

52.

No. (P r in t ed was a number between 1 and 4 5 0 0 ) .

No number can be ident i f ied with any person.

YOUR VOTE I S SECRET"

I t w i l l be seen that such endorsement does not include the words

"a l l ba l lo t pape r s have been so s h u f f l e d t h a t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f

any number with any person is lmposslble" as was required by t h e

c e r t i f i e d r u l e . T h i s i s c l e a r l y a b r e a c h o f t h e r u l e s . The

omiss ion o f t he words se t ou t above 1s. i n my v l e w , o f v i t a l

impor t ance . Ev idence has been g iven t ha t a r e l a t l v e l y s m a l l

number o f members who w e r e e n t l t l e d t o v o t e I n t h e s u b j e c t

e lec t ion dec ided n o t t o v o t e a s a resu l t o f the endorsement on

t h e b a l l o t p a p e r s a s t h e y b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e i r v o t e would not be

s e c r e t . I t i s c l e a r i n my v i e w t h a t o t h e r members who were

e n t i t l e d t o v o t e may have been inhibi ted from e x e r c l s l n g t h e i r

votes because of the par t icular endorsement on t h e b a l l o t p a p e r .

Fu r the r t he v idence d i sc loses t ha t some t e n b a l l o t

pape r s w i th vo te s cas t i n acco rdance wi th the vo t lng ln s t ruc t lons

s e t o u t on the ba l lo t pape r b u t with the said endorsement a t the

t o p o f t h e ballot paper heavi ly c rossed out or cu t of f had been

received by the	Returning	Off icer .	He	had	t r ea t ed	such	vo te s	a	s
informal.

PARTICULARS OF ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES

The fo l lowing p the a re t icu lars a l o f eged

53.

i r r e g u l a r i t i e s a s e t o u t I n t he app l i ca t ion fo r t he i nqu i ry :

1. No n o m i n a t i o n s w e r e c a l l e d f o r o r

a d v e r t i s e d f o r t h e e l e c t i o n t h e t o

pos i t i ons o f Deputy-President, Branch P re s iden t ,

Vice-President or

F e d e r a l C o u n c i l l o r s a s i s r e q u i r e d b y

r u l e s 30 r u l e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ( " t h e r u l e s " ) . and 3 1 ( a ) o f t h e r e g i s t e r e d

2. The appoin ted pursuant r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r w a s not

to ru le 1 6 ( j ) o f the

r u l e s .

3. The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r r e f u s e d t o

a c c e p t t h e a p p l i c a n t s ' n o m i n a t i o n s a s

required by r u l e 31.

4. The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r f a i l e d t o t ake

such	s t eps
a s connect ion were required i n

with the lnconsis tencies and

inadequac ie s a r i s ing i n t he app l i ca t ion

o f t h e 146AS(1) t o the A c t . r u l e s a s r e q u i r e d b y r e g u l a t i o n

5. The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r was not

impar t i a l a s r equ i r ed by ru l e 31 (k ) of

t h e	r u l e s .
6.	The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r was not

appointed compliance in with sect ion

133(1) (b) of t h e A c t .

7 . The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r d i d not prepare

t h e r o l l o f v o t e r s for t h e e l e c t i o n a s

required the

by organiza t ion and r u l e s t h e o f

r egu la t ion 146AG t o the

Act.

8. The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r f a l l e d t o

comply	wi th	regula t ion	146AJ(4)	to	the
Act.

9. The r e t u r n i n g o f f l c e r f a i l e d t o

comply wi th regula t ion 1 4 6 A D ( l ) ( d ) and

( e ) t o t h e A c t .

1O.The r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r f a i l e d t o

comply wi th r egu la t ion 146AE(1) ( a ) o f

the A c t .

11. The c o m p l y w i t h r e g u l a t i o n 1 4 6 A J ( 8 ) ( a )	r e t u r n i n g	o f f i c e r	f a i l e d	t o
o f
the Act.

12 . The b a l l o t w i t h i n t h e e l e c t i o n was meaning of the Act and n o t by s e c r e t

as p rescr ibed by s e c t i o n s 133 and 133AA

of t h e Act.

13. The f u l l f r e e and democratlc vote of

members t he o f Organ iza t ion t he i

e l e c t i o n was hindered breach in of

s e c t i o n 2 ( f ) o f t h e	Act	and	in b reach o f
t h e r u l e s .

54.

1 4 . The c o r r e c t a s c e r t a i n m e n t o f t h e

r e s u l t s o f v o t i n g was prevented and

h i n d e r e d b y t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r a n d

t h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e o r g a n i z a t l o n i n

breach of sect ions 4 and 169 of t h e a c t

and i n b r e a c h o f r e g u l a t i o n 146AR(3) of

the Act.

15 . Any o r a n y p r o p e r r e t u r n was n o t

f i l e d by o rgan iza t ion the

compliance( SIC) wi th regula t ion 136C( 1 )

o f t he A c t .

16.The re turn ing of f icer omi t ted to take

s u c h s t e p s a s w e r e n e c e s s a r y i n t h e

conduct the c o r r e c t l y a s c e r t a i n e l c t ion o f so a s t o

t h e s u b j e c t o f f i c e s

and	t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e e l e c t i o n .
The	a p p l i c a t i o n t h e n s e t s o u t some e l e v e n f o o l s c a p

pages of a l leged fac ts .

Pursuant to s .165 of the Federal Act the Court “shal l

i n q u i r e i n t o and determine the quest ion whether any i r regular i ty

h a s o c c u r r e d i n o r I n c o n n e x i o n w i t h t h e e l e c t i o n a n d s u c h

f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o n d u c t a n d r e s u l t s o f t h e

e l e c t i o n a s t h e C o u r t h l n k s n e c e s s a r y “ . The Cour t i n i t s

reasons for judgment handed down on 2 6 April 1979 considered the

meaning o f t h e word “ i r r e g u l a r l t y “ i n Re Federated Liquor and

All ied I n d u s t r l e s Employees’ Union of Aus t ra l ia : Ex p a r t e

Huxtable, (1979) 40 F.L.R. 418. This concerned an inqulry held

unde r Pa r t I X i n t o a n e l e c t i o n h e l d p u r s u a n t t o s.170 o f t h e

Federal Act in the Tasmanian Branch of the sa id organlza t ion . The

R e t u r n i n g O f f i c e r was i n f a c t a n o f f i c e r o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n

Elec tora l Off lce . A t p.426 Northrop J. s t a t e d :

“ T h e a p p l i c a n t s i r r e g u l a r l t l e s a r e n o t a l l e g i n g a n y

a r i s i n g from t h e f a c t

t h a t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r a p p l i e d t h e

pa f i r s t b ranch agraph o f on ly

...

55.

r . 4 ( q u a l l f l c a t i o n f o r o f f i c e ) . They a r e

no t a t t ack ing the va l id i ty o f any o f t he

r u l e s o f t h e u n i o n . T h e y a r e s a y i n g

tha t t hey not nominate for of f ice . accep ted t he adv ice g lven by

t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r and t h e r e f o r e d id

A r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r i s not authorized by

t h e A c t conduct the e lec t ions t o g i v e a d v i c e , h i s d u t y i s t o

i n accordance with

t h e r u l e s o rgan iza t ion , t he o f

complemented when necessary the by

e x e r c i s e o f t h e powers conferred by

s.170A o f t h e A c t . The A c t e n a b l e s a

member o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t o a p p l y t o

the c o u r t fo r an o rde r dec la r ing tha t a

r u l e of organizat ion an contravenes

s.140(1) o f t h e A c t . A p a r t a l t o g e t h e r

from any under s.140 of proceedings o r o r d e r s made

t he Ac t , an i r r egu la r i ty

i n o r i n c o n n e x i o n w i t h a n e l e c t i o n

occurs when a r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r r e l i e s

upon a r u l e which contravenes s.140(1)

of the Act. In an inquiry under P t I X

o f t h e Act an applicant i s f r e e t o c a l l

evidence and make s u b m i s s i o n s t o show

t h a t a r u l e r e l i e d upon by a r e tu rn ing

off lcer contravened s .140(1) of the Act

a t t h e t i m e it was r e l i e d u p o n . T h l s

occur red in Love11 -v- Federated Liquor

and Al l i ed of Aus t ra l ia" (1978) Indus t r i e s Employees' Union

35 F.L.R. 7 2 .

Again a t p.427 :

"A member of an organizat ion m u s t decide

for himself whether t o nominate for an

o f f i c e o r n o t . He m u s t l o o k t o t h e

r u l e s o rgan iza t ion . t he o f he I f

c o n s i d e r s h e i s e l i g i b l e t o n o m i n a t e ,

a n d h e d e s i r e s t o n o m i n a t e , h e s h o u l d

nominate irrespective of any expresslons

of opinion by a r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r o r a n y

person. other The r e tu rn ing

o f f i c e r t h e r e a f t e r 1 s under a d u t y t o

accept re lec t o r the nominat lon In

accordance with rules the t of

o rganiza t ion . The ac t ion by a r e tu rn ing

o f f i c e r i n e i t h e r a c c e p t i n g o r r e j e c t i n g

the nomlnation provides a foundat ion for

an inquiry under P t I X o f t he Ac t I f .

4

A,

L

56.

t h e c o u r t f i n d s t h a t a r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r

r e l l e d upon t h e wrong r u l e , o r upon a

r u l e which was c o n t r a r y t o s.140(1) of

the Ac t , t he cour t may conclude that an

l r regular l ty has occurred . Thereaf te r

t he cour t has wide powers t o make o rde r s

r e c t i f y i n g t h e	i r r e g u l a r i t y ,	s.165	o f
the Act. "

HIS Honour had s t a t e d a t pp.424-5:

"The word " i r r e g u l a r i t y " 1s d e f i n e d i n

the Shor te r Oxford Dictionary(23rd ed.

1972 r e p r l n t ) a s " t h e q u a l l t y o r s t a t e

o f b e i n g i r r e g u l a r ; s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s

I r r e g u l a r " . I n t h e same d i c t i o n a r y , t h e

word " i r r e g u l a r " i s d e f i n e d i n r e l a t i o n

t o t h i n g s a s " n o t i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h

r u l e o r p r i n c i p l e , c o n t r a r y t o r u l e ;

d i s o r d e r l y a c t i o n c o n d u c t , i n o r

anomalous , abnormal" . In the Act , b y

s . 4 , except where otherwise c l ar ly

i n t e n d e d , t h e word " i r r e g u l a r i t y " h a s

the fol lowing meaning : " ' I r r e g u l a r i t y ' ,

i n r e l a t i o n t o a n e l e c t i o n o r b a l l o t ,

i n c l u d e s a b r e a c h o f t h e r u l e s o f a n

o rgan iza t ion r of a branch an of

organiza t ion , and any ac t , omis s ion o r

o t h e r means whereby t he fu l l and f r e e

record lng vo tes of persons a l l by

e n t i t l e d t o r e c o r d v o t e s , a n d b y n o

o the r sons per , 01: a c o r r e c t

ascer ta inment dec la ra t ion o r of t h e

r e s u l t s t h e at tempted to be prevented or hindered." v o t i n g o f o r i s , i s

This provis ion g iv does n t a

d e f i n l t i v e meaning t h e t o word

" i r r e g u l a r i t y " b u t extends the meaning,

necessa ry , ma t t e r s .	I f	i nc lude	t o	spec i f i c
I n t he p re sen t ca se , t he f ac t s

assumed for the purpose of submission on

the p re l imina ry ex tended i s sue canno t cons t i t u t e

an i r r e g u l a r i t y w l t h i n t h e s t a t u t o r y

mean ing o f t ha t word . The re

has been no breach of the ru les o f the

u n i o n o r i t s Tasmanian branch. There

has been no ac t o r omiss ion whereby t h e

f u l l and pe r sons en t i t l ed to r eco rd vo te s , f r e e r e c o r d i n g o f v o t e s b y a l l

and by

no o the r pe r sons , r a c o r r e c t

a sce r t a inmen t dec l a ra t ion o r of the

57 .

r e s u l t s of vot ing i s , or is a t tempted to

be, prevented or hindered."

B u t i n R e Aus t r a l i an Pos t a l and Te lecommunica t ions

Union: Ex parte Wilson, (1979) 28 A.L.R. 330 Sheppard J. i n h i s

r easons fo r judgment handed down on 20 December 1979 a t

pp.335-336 s t a t e d :

"The open l e t t e r was produced with money

provided from union funds. That i s so,

a t l e a s t t o t h e e x t e n t of $998, which

was t h e c o s t o f p r i n t i n g it. There may

be a fo r ma i l ing q u e s t i o n a s t o t h e amounts incurred

and postage, b e a r i n g i n mind

t	t h a t
e despatched offending document was

with a union ewslet ter . I

d o n o t although n e e d t o d e c i d e t h a t q u e s t i o n ,

I am i n c l i n e d t o t h e v i e w t h a t

t h e whole expenditure the f w a s

improperly incurred.

It f o l l o w s t h e r e t h a t was an

i r r e g u l a r i t y . The sending of t h e

c i r c u l a r was a b r e a c h o f an imp l i ed

p rov i s ion of the union r u l e s . But it i s necessary t o determine whether the

i r r e g u l a r i t y was a n i r r e g u l a r i t y w i t h i n

t h e meaning of the Act(emphasis added).

Unless it was. t h e i u r l s d i c t i o n v e s t e d

i n t h i s c o u r t . b y s.165 o f t h e ~ A c t does

a r i s e . n o t The expression

" i r r e g u l a r i t y " i s d e f i n e d i n s . 4 of t h e

A c t a s fo l lows :-

" ' I r r e g u l a r i t y ' , r e l a t i o n i n a n t o

election o r b a l l o t , i n c l u d e s a breach of

t h e r u l e s o f a n o r g a n i z a t l o n o r o f a

branch of an organizat ion, and any act ,

omission or other means whereby t h e f u l l

and f r ee p e r s o n s e n t i t l e d t o r e c o r d v o t e s , r co rd ing of v o t e s b y a l l

and by

no o the r pe r sons , r a c o r r e c t

a sce r t a inmen t dec l a ra t lon o r t he f

r e s u l t s t h e v o t i n g o f i s , or 1s

attempted t o be, prevented or hindered."

The def ini t ion, by reason of the u s e of

t h e word " inc ludes" , may no t be an

exhaustive one, b u t it i s difficult t o

58.

th ink of any o ther type of i r regular i ty

t h a t	would	no t be wi th in the de f in i t i on .
The	words	" a n y a c t , o m i s s i o n o r o t h e r

m e a n s " a r e v e r y w i d e , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g

t h e y a r e q u a l i f i e d b y t h e w o r d s t h a t

fo l low them. No submiss ion was made

b a s e d o n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e d e f i n i t i o n

was a n i n c l u s i v e o n e a n d I p u t t h a t

mat te r as ide .

There 1s t h e n t h e q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r

t h e words commencing wi th the word

" w h e r e b y " q u a l i f y n o t o n l y t h e w o r d s

"any act , r u l e s of an organizat ion omission or other means", b u t

a l s o t h e e a r l i e r of an organizat ion". words "a breach or of a branch of t h e

In my op in ion , t he better view i s t h a t

t h e words "whereby" do qual commencing wi th the word

i fy the reference t o a

b r e a c h of r u l e s , a s w e l l a s t h e w o r d s

"any act , omission or other means". In

reaching tha t conc lus ion , I have taken

in to account the p resence o f the comma

a f t e r t h words "branch an of

organiza t ion" . But t h e i r r e g u l a r i t y

which i s i r r e g u l a r i t y " i n r e l a t i o n t o a n e l e c t i o n being def ined i s an

o r b a l l o t " . l e g i s l a t u r e It seems u n l i k e l y t h a t h e

would have intended that any

breach of the ru les o f an o rganiza t ion

whatsoever would have been su f f i c i en t t o

cou r t t he war ran t exe rc i s lng

ju r i sd ic t ion under s.165. The p o s i t i o n

may have been d i f f e ren t t he i f

d e f i n i t i o n had def ined an i r regular i ty

a s a breach of h o l d i n g o f a n e l e c t i o n o r b a l l o t , a r u l e i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e

b u t

t h a t i s not the way it reads .

I t f o l l o w s t h a t f o r a b r e a c h o f t h e

ru l e s o f i r r e g u l a r i t y f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f the o rgan iza t ion t o be an

S .165,

t h e b r e a c h p reven ted o r m u s t h inde red have been one whlch

the fu l l and f r e e

record ing vo tes e n t i t l e d t o r e c o r d v o t e s of p a l l by rsons

and by no o t h e r

p e r s o n s . The ba lance o f t he words of

t h e d e f i n i t i o n c a n h a v e n o r e l e v a n c e .

In my opin ion , the b reach of the ru les

which	has	here	occurred	i s	n o t	o	f	t h a t
k ind . "

+

*.

4 59.

N o re fe rence was made i n t h i s c a s e t o H u x t a b l e ' S case .

Counsel for the appl icants herein and D r Jessup who appeared for

the organizat ion have both asked the C o u r t no t to fo l low Wilson ' S

- case , a rgu ing tha t , on the p roper cons t ruc t lon of the def in l t lon

of " i r r e g u l a r i t y " s e t o u t i n s.4 of the Federal A c t , the phrase

"whereby t h e f u l l and free recording of votes . . . . . i s hlndered"

govern only "a breach of the ru les" . the words "any ac t , omiss ion or o ther means" and not

I n a r e c e n t i n q u i r y i n t o a n e l e c t i o n i n t h e F e d e r a t e d

Clerks Union of Austral ia , Victor ian Eranch, Ex p a r t e R a p e r ,

Northrop J. i n hls reasons for judgment handed down on 24 May

1983 (unreported) had t o c o n s i d e r ( i n t e r a l i a ) t h e q u e s t i o n

whether an i r regular i ty had occurred in or i n connexion with an

e l e c t i o n f o r t h e o f f i c e s of State Conference delegate and S t a t e

Counci l lor espec t ive ly o f tha t Branch . The e l e c t i o n had been

c o n d u c t e d u n d e r u n r e g i s t e r e d o r u n c e r t i f l e d r u l e s . I t was

contended by Counsel representing the officials of the Branch

t h a t as t h e e l e c t l o n had been conducted under unregistered r u l e s

there could be no " I r r e g u l a r i t y " a s d e f l n e d I n s.4 of the Federal

Act a s t h e w o r d s " t h e r u l e s o f a Branch o f an o rgan iza t ion"

there in appear ing mean " the r u l e s of a Branch a s r e g i s t e r e d o r

c e r t i f i e d under the Act". H i s Honour a t p . 5 o f h i s r e a s o n s f o r

j u d g m e n t , h a v i n g i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e was f o r c e i n such a

conten t ion , s ta ted : " b u t it does not conclude the mat ter s ince

t h e d e f i n i t i o n i s n o t d e f i n i t i v e o f t h e m e a n l n g of t h e word

" i r r e g u l a r i t y " . I r e f e r t o and adhe re t o wha t was sa id i n

+

.

P 60.

Huxtable' S case (supra.) a t pp.424-5". A t p. 6 of those reasons

H i s Honour con t inues : " In f ac t , it i s d i f f i c u l t t o see a g r e a t e r

i r r egu la r l ty , w l th in the o rd ina ry meaning of t h a t word, i n o r i n

connexion with an elect ion in a branch than where that e lect ion

i s conducted pursuant t o u n r e g i s t e r e d r u l e s " .

I n t h e p r e s e n t l n q u i r y I f ind it unnecessary t o make a

de f ln i t i ve de t e rmina t ion a s t o t he p rope r cons t ruc t ion o f t he

d e f i n i t i o n o f " i r r e g u l a r i t y " i n s . 4 o f t h e F e d e r a l A c t . B u t when

consider ing i t s proper cons t ruc t lon It 1s e s s e n t i a l , i n my vlew,

t h a t o n e s h o u l d b e a r i n m i n d t h e h i s t o r y o f P a r t I X o f t h e

Federal A c t which was introduced together with the said

d e f i n i t i o n b y s s . 4 a n d 6 o f A c t No.28 o f 1 9 4 9 a n d t h a t t h e

p rov i s ions o f t ha t Pa r t were " in t ended t o be cumulative upon and

i n n o d e g r e e s u b s t i t u t i o n a l f o r " t h e p r o v i s i o n s c o n t a i n e d i n

s . 1 4 1 o f t h e A c t . This h i s t o r y a n d i t s e f f e c t g e n e r a l l y 1 s

d i scussed i n The Queen -v- Spice r : Ex par te Fos te r , (1956) 100

C.L.R. 163. See a l s o Walkerden -v- Gi les , ( 1 9 6 9 ) 1 5 F.L.R. 207 @

212. Further it i s important t o keep i n mind t h a t t h e power o f

t h e C o u r t u n d e r s.165 t o make o r d e r s e x t e n d s n o t o n l y t o " a n

e l e c t i o n " b u t a l s o " t o a n y s t e p i n o r i n connex ion w i th an

e l e c t i o n " . Such a s t e p would i n c l u d e the acceptance by a

r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r o f a nomination where, contrary t o a r u l e o f

t h e p a r t i c u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n , one n the of mlnators was

u n f i n a n c i a l . C o u l d i t be s a i d t h a t t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f s u c h a

nomination "prevented or hlndered the full and f ree recordlng of

v o t e s o f members e n t i t l e d t o v o t e " o r t h a t t h e " c o r r e c t

61.

a s c e r t a i n m e n t o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e v o t i n g was p r e v e n t e d or

h l n d e r e d " ? A g a l n t h e same ques t i ons migh t be a sked wher e a

r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r c a l l s f o r n o m i n a t i o n s a t a t ime otherwise than

tha t p rovided c o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f s . 1 6 5 for in the ru les o f the o rganiza t lon . L ikewise

(4),

sub-ss . (6) and ( 7 ) of s.141 and s .170A and i t s precursor s.96M,

the p rov i s ions of which were considered b y t h e High C o u r t in 1951

and 1953 i n Fede ra t ed I ronworke r s -v - Commonwealth ( 1 9 5 1 ) 84

C.L.R. 265 @ 281-2 and 283 and The Queen -v- C o u r t of

Conci l ia t ion and Arb i t r a t ion , Ex p a r t e A.E .U. (1953) 89 C . L . R .

6 3 6 @ 646 (reg.146AS of the Regulat ions made under the Federal

Act may a l s o b e r e l e v a n t ) .

I am firmly of the view that he ndorsement on t h e

b a l l o t p a p e r s i n t h l s e l e c t i o n was a c l e a r b r e a c h o f t h e

c e r t i f i e d r u l e s of t h e Branch of the organization which could

have prevented o f p e r s o n s e n t i t l e d or hindered the ful l and f ree recording of votes

t o r e c o r d t h e i r v o t e s . The Court understands

t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e o f numberlng b a l l o t p a p e r s a s w a s done i n t h i s

case was a p r a c t i c e which preva l led many years ago l n t h e r u l e s

severa l of o rganiza t ions . The C o u r t unde r s t ands t ha t t he

r a t iona le fo r such a r u l e was to p reven t fo rge r i e s . Prima f a c l e ,

I n my view, the numbering o f ba l lo t pape r s i n any f a sh ion would

r e s u l t i n a b a l l o t b e i n g n o t a s e c r e t b a l l o t . I n Cameron -v-

Australian	Workers'	Union,	(1959) 2	F .L .R .	4 5	@	p.64	Splcer	C.J.
s t a t e d :

62.

"Here we are concerned with the meaning

t o be given t o the words " s e c r e t b a l l o t "

i n a Commonwealth A c t of 1951 app l i cab le

e l e c r e l a t i o n i n t o i o n s organizat i n

ions under the Conci l ia t ion and

A r b i t r a t i o n A c t . I t h l n k t h e s e words do

con templa t e a b a l l o t i n w h i c h n o t h i n g

w i l l appear o f i den t i fy ing the vo te r o the r t han on the ba l lo t paper capable

what

h e p u t s vot ing . t h e r e h i m s e l f i n The degree t o which t h e a c t o f

t h e

prac t i ce o f a t t ach ing a v o t e r ' S number

t o a b a l l o t p a p e r i n a u n i o n e l e c t i o n

may ope ra t e des t roy t o s ec recy i s

g rea t e r t han e l e c t i o n . i n a Parliamentary

The e l e c t o r a t e 1 s much

smaller and the chance o f t he number of

t h e v o t e r b e i n g known o r h i s i d e n t i t y

a sce r t a ined from it by persons who may

s e e t h e b a l l o t p a p e r s i s , I t h i n k , o f

g r e a t e r moment t h a n i n a Parliamentary

e l ec t ion . "

In t ha t ca se a ru l e p rov ided t ha t on vot ing a member

was r e q u i r e d t o a t t a c h t o h i s b a l l o t p a p e r a n a p p r o p r i a t e l y

l e t t e r e d v o t i n g s l i p which e f f e c t i n p r o v e d t h a t h e was

f i n a n c i a l . A t p.75 Dunphy J. s a i d :

"Gne r e s u l t o f t h i s s y s t e m is obvious -

anyone s u f f i c i e n t l y i n t e r e s t e d c o u l d

obtain any member's union card and then,

through a sc ru t inee r o r even a r e tu rn ing

o f f i c e r , a s c e r t a i n d e t a i l s o f t h e v o t e

c a s t b y t h e vo te r s w i th the i r ba l lo t pape r s had been member conce rned . I t was

said i n e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e l d e n t l t y o f

a s c e r t a i n e d i n t h e p a s t i n t h l s manner

for the purposes shee t ing of home

ce r t a in f r audu len t e l e c t o r a l p r a c t i c e s .

There 1s no doubt tha t th i s sys tem has

cer ta in mater ia l advantages to the unlon

adminis t ra t ion and t h e r e i s equa l ly n o

d o u b t t h a t it m i l i t a t e s v e r y s t r o n g l y

a g a i n s t t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a " s e c r e t "

b a l l o t . Whatever may be the h i s tory o f

the developnent s t a t u t e of t h e " s e c r e t " b a l l o t

we a r e h e r e d e a l l n g w i t h t h e modern

t h e requlrements f o r " s e c r e t " b a l l o t

were f i r s t i n s e r t e d i n t h e

A c t a s l a t e a s 1951. A ba l lo t conducted

63.

under the foregoing system i s n o t , i n my

opin ion , "secre t" ."

I r e spec t fu l ly ag ree w i th e se obse rva t ions . The

p r a c t i c e o f n u m b e r i n g b a l l o t p a p e r s a s was d o n e i n t h i s c a s e

should cease. In my view any such numbering of b a l l o t p a p e r s

would mean t h a t a n y b a l l o t r e q u i r e d i n a p a r t i c u l a r e l e c t i o n

would not be a " sec re t ba l lo t " w l th ln the meaning of S .133(1) ( d )

o r a n e l e c t i o n b y " s e c r e t p o s t a l b a l l o t " w i t h i n t h e meaning o f

S .133AA of the Federal Act. It i s not t o t h e p o i n t , a s was t h e

c a s e i n t h e s u b j e c t e l e c t i o n , t h a t n o r e c o r d was k e p t b y t h e

Returning Officer or t h o s e a s s i s t i n g him of t h e number on t h e

ba l lo t pape r s en t t o a p a r t i c u l a r v o t e r o r t h a t t h e b a l l o t p a p e r s

had in forwarding t o members. fact been shuff led before being placed in envelopes for

Accord ingly the Cour t dec la res tha t an i r regular i ty

wl th in the meaning of s.165 has o c c u r r e d i n t h e s u b j e c t e l e c t l o n

with the consequence that the provisions of sub-s.(4) of t h a t

s e c t i o n m u s t considered. be Here t h e C o u r t , i n a l l t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i s o f t h e o p l n i o n t h a t t h e r e s u l t o f t h e s a l d

e l e c t i o n may have been a f f ec t ed by the sa id i r r egu la r i ty .

Add i t iona l ly , a s t he ce r t i f l ed ru l e s unde r which t h i s

e l e c t i o n was to be conducted inc luded a r u l e making t h e numbering

o f t he ba l lo t pape r s In the way described mandatory, it followed

t h a t when t h e e l e c t i o n commenced t h e r u l e s of t h e Branch o f t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n d i d n o t t h e n p r o v l d e f o r a s e c r e t p o s t a l b a l l o t

w i th in the meaning of s. l33AA(2) of the Federal Act ( s e e a l s o t h e

ur

L

4 64.

d e f i n l t i o n o f " e l e c t i o n " i n r e g . 146AA i n P a r t VAA o f t h e

R e g u l a t i o n s made u n d e r t h e F e d e r a l A c t ) . T h i s b e l n g so, t h e

s u b j e c t e lect ion should then have been conducted under and in

accordance wl th r e gu la t ions se t o u t i n P a r t VAA. The

a p p l i c a n t s i n t h i s i n q u i r y h a v e made c e r t a i n a l l e g a t i o n s i n

respec t o f the fa i lure by the Return ing Off icer to conduct he

sa id e lec t ion in accordance wi th the p rovis ions of c e r t a i n o f

t hose r egu la t ions . In view of the Court ' S d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t a n

i r r egu la r i ty has occur red it i s i n a l l t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

unnecessary to make f ind ings in r e spec t o f such a l l ega t ions .

Fu r the r , t he C o u r t does no t f i nd i t n e c e s s a r y t o make

any observa t ions in respec t of the a l l ega t ions by the app l i can t s

tha t the Return ing Off icer was b i a s e d o r n o t impar t i a l . B u t t h e

C o u r t r epea t s what was s a i d i n Lyons L O r s . -v- Deegan L O r s ,

( 1 9 7 8 ) 35 F.L.R. 430 @ pp.442-3: "We cons ider it p l a i n t h a t t h e r e

i s a du ty on t he pa r t o f a Returning Off icer pursuant to r u l e s

s u c h a s r . 2 1 a n d I n d e e d i n a l l c a s e s i n w h i c h a f r e e v o t e o f

members i s sought for the purpose of ascer ta ln ing the opin ion of

members, that the Returning Off icer should consider himself as an

o f f i c i a l a t a r m ' s l e n g t h from those members o f t he o rgan iza t ion

having any t h a t , i n a l l a s p e c t s o f t h e interest in the vote going one way o r t h e o t h e r , so

machinery for the tak ing of the vote

t h e t a k i n g p r o p a g a n d a o f a f r e e v o t e i s ach ieved , un in f luenced by any

i n t h e m a c h i n e r y " . I n t h a t c a s e t h e C o u r t was

cons ide r lng ce r t a in even t s which occurred during the conduct of a

p l e b i s c i t e . The observat ions quoted are j u s t a s r e l e v a n t i n t h e

6 5 .

conduct of a n e l e c t i o n f o r t h e f i l l i n g of any o f f i ce wi th in any

organiza t ion reg is te red under th A c t . The i n t e g r i t y ,

independence and Impart ia l i ty of a Returning Off icer in such an

e lec t ion must be beyond ques t ion .