In the matter of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 and in the matter of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, an organisation of employees registered under the said Act and in the matter of an..

[1978] FCA 41

Industrial law - organlzation of employees - electlons - right to vote limlted to fmancial members - opportunity

to vote extended to unfinancial members - invalidity -

whether order rectlfylng invalldity or negativing or

modifylng its consequences wculd not do substantial

injustice to any member of trle organizatlon - Cnncillation

and Arbitration Act 1904 s.lT1C

Colin Aubrey Maxwell	v. Nellie Evelyn Gall and Kenneth
Ross Belsham
Qld. No. 1 of 1978

COR13: J.B. Sweeney, Keely and Deane JJ.

DELIVERED: 15 June, 1978

AT: Sydney

.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT

OF AUSTRALIA )

)

INDUSTRIAL	DIVISION	)	Qld.	No.	1 of 1978
)

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT RE:GISTRY )

IX THE MATTER of the Conciliatlon and

Arbitratlonict, 1904

AND IN TITE NATTER of the Australasian :.eat

Industry Employees unlon, an organlsatjon of

employees registered under the said AC:

AND IN THE MATTER of an applicatlon pursuant

to Sectlon 171c of the sald Act

BETWEEN C9LJN FUS’?EY WXWELL

Applicant

- AND NELIIE EVELYh GALL and Kl?tT;ET?I ROSS

BELSHAM --

I

Respondents

i	-	JUDGZS MAKING ORDER: J.B. SWEENEY, KEFLY and DEANE	J tS .
DATE OF ORDER: 15 June, 1975 WHERE MADE: Sydney ORDER OF THE COURT:

l 1. The court declares that +n invalidity has occurred in the

election conducted In Auqust, 1977 In the Queensland

Branch of the Australaslzn Meat Industry Employees Unlon.

2 . The court 1s not satlsfled that an order as to such

lnvalldity would not	do euhstantlal in~ustlce	to a member
of the organlsation.

3 . The court refuses to make any order as to the sale invalldity.

4. The applicatlon is dismissed.

I

.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTKlZLIA )

No. QLD. 1 of l973

INDUSTRIAL D I V I S I O N

I N TIE MATTER of the C o n c l l 1 s t 1 o n

and Arbl L r a t 1 on Act 1904-1 974

- and-

rrg:stered under t h c sald. A L L

!

-and-

IT THE MATTER 01 a n a p p l ~ c a t l o n

pnrsuant	t o S c c t l o n 1 7 1 C of	t h e
s n d Act

__- BETCEEK COLIN AUBRISY 1SSSKCLL

Applicant

CORAM. J . B . S w e e n e y , K e e l y 6: Deanc JJ.

15TH DAY OF JUKE, 1978

R E A S O X PO3 JU1)GhIEE;T

J . B . SWEENEY, KEE1,Y & DEAhT J J - T h e a p p l i c a n t , 15 a

member of t h e Australaslan Meat I n d u s t r y E m p l o y c e s ' U n l o n

( " t h e U n l o n " ) w h i c h 1s an o r g a n l z a t l o n o f employees r e g l 5 t c r c d

1 under t h e p rov l s lons of t h e C o n c l l J n t l o n and A r b ~ t r a t i o n AcJ

-2-

1904 ( " t h e Act") .

I n A u g u s t , 1 9 7 7 t h e \ ~ u a d r e n n i a l e l e c t i o n s of of r l ce r s

of t h e Q u c c n s l a n d B r a n c h o f t h e U n i o n t o o k p l a c e T h e b a l l o t

was a p o s t a l o n e . T h e a p p l l c a n t vas a c a n d i d a t e I n t h o s e

e l c c t l o n s €or t h e o f f i c e o f Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y . He

was d e c l a r e d , by t h e R e t u r n l n g OKlccr , t o h a v c been e l e c t e d

t o t h a t o f f i c e . T h e r e s p o n d e n t s , Nellle Eve lyn G a l 1 and Kcnneth

Ross Belsham, are a l so membcrs oi t h e Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h of

thc Un f o r t h e o € f i c e ion . They were u n s u c c c s s f u l c a n d i d a t e s I n t h o s c c l e s ' t l o n s

of o r g a n i z c r and B r a n c h P r e s l d e n t r c s p e c t l 7 \ ? l y .

On 1 9 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 7 , t h e r e s p o n d e n t s a p p l i e d t o

t h i s C o u r t f o r a n i n q u l r y u n d e r P a r t I X of t h e Act i n t o a

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

a l l e g e d i r r e g u l a r i t l e s , as p a r t i c u l a r i s e d , i n c l u d e d a n s l l c g -

a t i o n t h a t p e r s o n s n o t e n t ~ t l e d t o v o t e by r e a s o n o f being

u n f i n a n c l a l p u r s u a n t t o t h e r e g i s t e r e d Rules of t h e Unlon

( " t h e Rules") were i n some cases a l l o w e d t o v o t e . I t is

common g r o u n d b e t u e e n t h e p a r t l e s t h a t I n e x c e s s o f lG00

members who h a d p a i d t h e c o n t r l b u t i o n s f o r a n d who were +>h,?

l h o l d e r s of f i n a n c i a l t i c k e t s I n r c s p c c t o f t h e p e r l o d of slx

m o n t h s i m m c d l a t e l y p r e c e d i n g t h e e l e c t i o n b u t who owed t h e

Unlon money i n r e s p c c l . o f c o n t r i b u t l o n s €or prrvlous periods

were I n c l u d e d I n t h e rolls o f p e r ~ o n s e n t i t l e d t o v o t e i n the

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

!

1 n two of t h c B r a n c h ' s t h r e c d l s t r lc t s . I t 1s n l s o conininn

g round tha t t h e r e 1s n o way of a s c e r t a i n ~ n g p r c c i s c l y how

many o f t h o s e m o r e t h a n 1600 members d l d . i n f a c t , v o t e by

-3-

returning a c o m p l e t e d b a l l o t p a p e r . We s h a l l , f o r c o n l e n l e n c c ,

refer t o t h o s e more t h a n l600 mcmbcrs as b e i n g ' " h ~ s t o r ~ c a l l y

u n f i n a n c l a l " . T h e a p p l l c a t l o n €or a n I n q u i r y was d u l y r e f e r r e d

t o t h e C o u r t b y t h e Industrial Registrar and h a s been a d J o u r n c d

by t h e C o u r t p e n d l n g t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e p r e s e n t p r o c c e d l n g : : .

I n t h e p r c s e n t a p p l l c a t l o n , t h e applicant s c e k s ? r d e r s ,

p u r s u a n t t o s . 1 7 1 C o f t h e A c t , t o t h e f o l l o a l n g c f f e c t .

!

.

The applicant a n d t h e s u c c e s s f u l c a n d l d a t e s I n t h e e l c c t l o n s

t h e s u b J e c t of t h e a d J o u r n e d l n c , u l r y u n d e r P a r t I X a g r e e d

t h a t , i f t h e p r e s e n t a p p l l c a t l o n s h o u l d f a l l , no oppos1. t lon

w ~ l l b e o f f e r e d t o a n order, I n tnat I n q u l r y , i h n t nev; e lec t -

I o n s be h e l d I n respect o f a l l o f t h e o I f i c e s l n v o l v c d I n t h e

election:;	o t h e r	t h a n	t h o s e	t o which	c a n d ~ d a t e s were	c l c c t e d
unopposed.

T h e e l e c t l o n s were f o r a t o t a l o f f o r t y o f f l c e . ; I n

I

t h e Q u e e h s l a n d B r a n c h . T h r e e c a n d l d a t e s w e r 6 c l e c t c d u n o p p o s e d .

The remaining 37 p o s l t l o n s were c o n t e s t c d . E a c h membcr 0 1

t h e B r a n c h who was c n t l t l e d t o cast a v o t e was e n t l t l e d t o

vote i n r e s p e c t of e v e r y p o s ~ t l o n . I t would secm t h a t h a l l o t

-4-

p a p c r s were s e n t , by m a i l , t o some 12,000 ( a p p r o u i m a t c l y )

p e r s o n s who were i n c l u d e d o n t h c rolls of t h o s e e n t i t l e d t o

v o t e including t h e more t h a n l600 h i s t o r i c s l l y u n f l n a n c l a l

members who were so i n c l u d e d .

The margin be tween a s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e a n d h1s

closest u n s u c c e s s f u l o p p o n e n t was less t h a n 600 v o t e s i n al.1

b u t o n e casc. The one exception w a s Mr. T.F. Cascy aho was

! one 01 s e v e n c a n d i d a t c s elected as S e c t l o n r e p r e s e n t a t l v e s on

t h e B r a n c h Committee of LIanagemcnl.. The margin bc twccn bIr

Casey and t hc c losest u n s u c c e s s l u ! c a n d l d a t c was 1644 vo te : .

I t would seem a p p a r e n t t h a t h e .would have becn e l e c t e d cv'c11

I f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f v o t i n g had. n o t b e e n e s t c n d e d t o t h e r m r e

t h a n l600 h l s t o r l c a l l y u n f l n a n c 2 a l membcrs. I n t h e case ot

a l l o t h e r s u c c e s s I u 1 c a n d i d a t e s i n t h e c o n t e s t e d e l c c t l o n r ,

It I S p l a i n l y a matter of s p e c u l a t i o n w h e t h e r t h c y w o u l d hive

b e e n e l e c t e d t o o f f l ce 111 t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

v o t e h a d n o t b e e n e x t e n d e d t o t h o s e mcmlwrs.

A t t h e time t h e c l e c t i o n s were h e l d , t h e R u l e s o f the

U n i o n c x p r e s s l y p r o v i d e d t h a t " o n l y nrmbers o f t h e U n ~ o n

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

exercise a v o t e a t a n y e l e c t i o n " ( R u l e 53(10) (3)). Rule 10

of t h e R u l e s p rov lded :

!

!

r e a s o n of e s t o p p e l , w a i v e r or o t h + r w l s e c e a s e d t o be l l a b l f :

t o t h e Unlon I n r e s p e c t of t h e i r p a s t u n p a l d d u e s . I n d e e d ,

It was c o n t r l b u t l o n s , a c c e p t e d by a l l p a r t l e s t h a t , b y r e a s o n of s u c h u n p n l d

t h e m e m b e r s I n q u e s t l o n werc t o be deemed un-

f l n a n c l a l p u r s u a n t t o t h e p r o v l s l o n s o f R u l e 10 a n d , i n t h e

r e s u l t , w e r e , b y t h e c u m u l a t l v e o p e r a t l o n of R u l e 6 , R u l e

10 and Rule 53( 19)( 3 ) (see a b o \ , s ) , n o t e n t l t l c d t o v o t e o n

t h e e l e c t l o n s . T h e extending o f t h e o p p o r t u n l t y t o vote> t o

t h e m o r e t h a n 1600 h l s t o r l c a l l p u a f l n a n c l a l mcmbers 111 q u e s t l o n

a n d t h e t a k l n g I n t o a c c o u n t of the v o t e s o f s u c h o f t h c m 8;:

t o o k	a d v a n t a g e	of	t h e o p p o r t u n ~ t y was	I n b r e a c h	0 1	t h e	Rul:?s
of	t h e U n l o n .

The ru lcs o f a r e g i s t c r c d l n d u y t r l a l o r g n n J z a L l o n

-6-

of e m p l o y e c s c o m p r l s e t h e c o m p a c t b e t w e e n t h e members o f t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n . U n d e r a n d by thcm, nicmbcrs c u s t o m a r l l y cmpower

t h e i r elected r e p r e s e n t a t l v e s t o a c t o n t h c l r b e h a l f i n

matters which will n o t i n f r e q u e n t l y b e of Iundamen ta l impor t ance

t o t h e members’ l ~ v e l l h o o d a n d w e l l - b e l n g . T h e mcmbers of

s u c h a n c r g a n i z a t i o n are o r d l n a r l l y e n t ~ t l c d , b o t h a s a m a . t e r

of law and of common J u s t l c e , t o c x p e c t t h a t t h e i r e l e c t e d

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w l l l o b s c r v e a n y r e s t r l c t l o n s p l a c e d , b y t h e

ru l e s , upon t h e p o w e r s e n t r u s t e d i o t h e m a n d t h a t t h e p c r s u n s

I h e l d o u t as p o s s e s s l n g s u c h power:; will, i n t r u t h , be p c r s c n s

e l e c t e d as s u c h r e p r e s e n t a t l v e s 11 t h e m a n n e r p r e s c r i b e d b y

t h e r u l e s . A member of s u c h a n o * g a n l z a t l o n who s e e k s t3 bc

elected t o a n o I f ice w t h i n It is, l i k e w l s c , o r d l n a r l l y

e n t l t l r d t o e x p e c t a n d a s s u m e , b o t h a s a matter of law and of

cormnon J u s t i c e , t h a t t h e p r o v l s l c l a s o f t h e rfiles r e l a t i n g to

t h e c o n d u c t o r candidates o f , a n d t h e d e t e r m l n a t l o n of t h e s u c c e s s f u l c a n d l d a t e

I n , t h e e l e c t i o n f o r s u c h o f f l c e ~1.11 b e f:I11y

obse rved . Thc Act c o n t a i n s a numSer of p r o v l s l o n s whlch are

d e s i g n e d t o modlfy or ovcrcome, 1 1 1 a p p r o p r l a t e c a s e s , t h e

r e s u l t s of irregularities and errors m c l u d l n g c r r o r s a n d

i r r e g u l a r i t i e s I n t h e e l e c t i o n s o i o f f l c e r s or a reglsteretd

o r g a n i z a t l o n . T h e s e p r o v i s l o n s s h o u l d n o t h o w e v e r be s e e n as

e f f e c t l n g o r Justifying a n y g e n c r a l discounting e l t h e r of ‘,he

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

employees a s t h e s o u r c e from w h l c h t h e elected r c p r e s e n t a t l v e s

d e r l v e t h e l r powers or of t h e r l g h t 01 t h e members of such an

o r g a n i z a t i o n o r d i n a r i l y t o i n s i s t t h a t t h c p e r s o n s who p u r p o r t

t o exerclse t h o s e p o w e r s are , i n t r u t h , t h e p e r s o n s n h o h a v e

! b e e n d c t e r m l n e d by t h e p r o c c s s c s w h i c h thc r u l e s prescribe.

-7-

T h e e v l d e n c c e s t a b l l s h c s t h a t t h e c s t e n d l n g O C t h e

o p p o r t u n l t y t o v o t e t o the more t h a n 1600 h l s t o r ~ c a l l y UII-

financial members was t h e r e s u l t of h o n e s t m l s t a k e . T h e r c

was a w i d e - s p r e a d v i e w i n t h e Q u e e n s l a n d B r a . n c h of t h e Unlon

t h a t i f mcmber o f t he Un ion was c u r r ~ n t l y f ~ n a n c ~ a l (111 t h c

s e n s e t h a t h e was t h e h o l d e r o f a f l n a n c l a l t l c k e t I n r e s p e c t

of t h e c l i r r e n t s i x months o r , a l t e r n a t l r e l y , had b e e n t h e

h o l d e r of a c u r r e n t f i n a n c ~ a l t l c k e t 111 r e s p c c L of t h e 111ii1c-d-

i a t e l y p r c c e d i n g SIX months and w a s no t more than one month

i n arrears as r e g a r d s h l s c o n t r l b u t l o n I n respect of t h e

c u r r e n t SIX m o n t h s ) , h e was c n t l t l e d t o v o t e I n a n e l e c t i o n

n o t w l t h s l a n d l n g t h e f a c t t h a t he was h i s t o r l c a l l y u n f l n n n c ~ a l .

i n respect o f s o m e c o n t r i b u t i o n for a p a s t p e r l o d . T h l s m L s -

c o n c e p t i o n was n o t of r e c e n t o r l g l n . I t had exis ted f o r a

I

number of y e a r s . I t was a p p l i e d by t h e R e t u r n l n g O f f i c e r

, i n r e l a t l o n h a d b e e n a p p l l e d t o t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e e l e c t l o n s I n q u e s t i o n . T t

by R e t u r n l n g O.?llcers I n r e l a t l o n t o t h c l r

conduc t of p rev lous Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h e l e c t l o n s . I t was n o t ,

however , he ld by a l l members W J t h i n t h e B r a n c h and was n o t

u n i v e r s a l l y applied In t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e B r a n c h e l c c t l o n s

i n q u e s t l o n :

A s h a s b e e n m e n t l o n c d , t h e r c are t h r e e d i s t r l c t s

w i t h i n t h e Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h of t h e U n i o n . T h e c v t d e n c e

e s t a b l l s h c s t h a t , i n contrast t o t h e a p p r o a c h a d o p t e d i n

t h e S o u t h e r n a n d N o r t h e r n Dlstrlcts, historically u n f l n a n c i n l

members I n t h e C e n t r a l D i s t r l c t were e x c l u d e d f r o m t h e r o l l

of p e r s o n s e n t l t l c d t o v o t e I n t h c e l < + c t i o n s a n d \&ere n o t

a c c o r d e d t h e o p p o r t u n l t y of v o t ~ n g . The more t h a n l600

-8-

h l s t o r l c a l l y u n f l n a n c l a l members \ \h0 were a c c o r d e d t h e opportun-

l t y o f v o t l n g came from t h e Southern a n d N o r t h e r n D l s t r l c t s

I T h e e x p l a n a t l o n of t h e d l f f e r c n t a p p r o a c h a h l c h 1s t o b e

g l e a n e d f r o m t h e o v e r a l l e v l d e n c c IS t h a t a p r c v l o u s S e c r c t a r y

of t h e C e n t r a l Dlstrlct h a d t a k c n g r e a t care t o e n s u r c t h a t t h e

p r o c e d u r e s f o l 1 o v ; e d w l t h l n h l s Ill" trlct were I n s t r lc t c o m p l l m c c

l w i t h t h e R u l e s o f t h e U n l o n . T h e r e s u l t of t h l s d l s c r c p n n c y

between t h e t h r e e d l s t r l c t s was obviously t o l o a d p e r c e n t a g e

vot lng n l lmbers I n f a v o u r o f t h e S o u t h e r n a n d X o r t h e r n D ~ s t r l c t s

- a t t h e e , p e n s e of t h e C e n t r a l Dlstrlct .

Each of' Mrs. G a l l , h l r l 3e l sham and ano the r unsuccess -

I

f u l c a n d l d a t e (Mr. Anear who was t h e r e t l r l n g B r a n c h P r e s l d e n t

and a c a n d l d a t e f o r B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y ) g a v e e v l d e n c c t h a l h l s

or h e r l d e r s t a n d l n g o f t h e R u l e s w a s , a n d a t a l l r e l c v a n t

times h a d b e e n , t h a t a member aas n o t e n t i t l c d t o vote I n t h e

e lec t ions u n l e s s h e was f u l l y financial I n a c c o r d a n c e w,th t h e

Rulcs I n t h e scnse t h a t h e d l d n o t onc t h e Unlon any c!ohe~

i n r e s p e c t of p a s t c o n t r l b u t l o n s a n d t h a t It was n o t s u f f l c l c n t

t h a t h e was m e r e l y t h e h o l d c r of a P ~ n a n c l a l membership t ~ c k e t

i n respe-:t of t h e cu r ren t or l m m e d l a t c l y p r e c e d l n g S I X months

E a c h g a v c e v l d e n c e t h a t h e o r s h e b e l l e v e d t h a t t h e e l e c t l o n s

I n quest? .on would be and were b r l n g c o n d u c t e d on t h a t b a s l s .

' Mr. Anear a n d Mr. Belsham each gavc e v l d e n c e t h a t t h e c o n c k c t

of h l s campalgn I n t h e e l e c t l o n s h a d b e e n , t o some e x t e n t ,

b a s e d on t h a t b e l l e f . T h c c v l d e n c c o f t h e s e t h r e e w l t n e s s e s

was u n s h a k e n I n cross e x a m l n a t l o n . I t s h o u l d , I n our v lew,

be a c c e p t e d . \VC a l so a c c e p t Mr. A n e a r ' s e v l d c n c e t h a t 111s

I

b e l l e f t h a t t h e e l e c t l o n s were b e l n g c o n d u c t e d I n a c c o r d a n c e

w i t h h l s u n d e r s t a n d l n g o f t h e c f f c c t o€ t h e Ru les vas conflrnicd

-9-

by some u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y misleading remarks whlch had been

made t o h m by Mr. J o h n h l u n r o , t h e B r a n c h R e t u r n l n g OCf I C C ~

f o r t h e e lect lons i n q u e s t i o n .

S e c t i o n 1 7 1 C o f t h e Act p r o v i d e s , f o r p r c s c n t p u r p o s e s ,

as f o l l o w :

"

o r c r e d i t o r of t h c o r ; a n l a d t i o n sr t o

p e r s o n h a v i , : t , d e a i i n ; s w i t h t h e o r 2 a n

........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ... . . . f t .

T h e a p p l l c a n t p l a i n l y h a s a s u f f l c i e n t 1 n r ; e r e s t Lo

e n t i t l e him t o b r ~ n g t h e p r c s e n t a p p l i c a t i o n u n d e r s . 1 7 1 C . I t

I

is common g r o u n d t h a t t h e g i ~ i 1 1 g of t h c o p p o r t u n i t y t o v o t e

t o t h e more than 1600 p e r s o n s who were deemed t o b e u n f ~ n n n c ~ n l

members o f t he U n ~ o n by v i r t u e of t h e p r o v i s i o n s or R u l e 10

!

-10-

a n d t h e t a k l n g l n t o a c c o u n t o f t h c v o t e s of s u c h o€ t h o s e

members a s , i n f ac t , v o t e d i n v o l v c d t h c o c c u r r e n c e o f " a n

i n v a l l d l t y . . . i n a n e l e c t l o n " w l t h i n t h e m e a n i n g of t h o s e

words a s u s e d I n s . l 7 1 C ( l ) . The csscnt2al q u e s t ~ o n s I n v o l v e d

i n t h e p r e s e n t p r o c c e d l n g s are w h e t h e r t h e circumstances are

s u c h t h a t i t 1s a p p r o p r l a t c t h a t : n o r d e r r e c t i I y m g t h e

i n v a l l d l t y or n e g a t i v i n g or m o d i r y l n g t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s of t h e

I n v a l i d i t y s h o u l d b e madc and whether the Cour t I S s a t l s f i c d

t h a t s u c h a n o r d e r , i f o t h e r w l s e appropriate, wou ld no t do

- s u b s t a n t i a l injustice t o a n y membcr o f t h e o r g a n l z a t l o n .

I t was s u b m i t t e d , o n b e h a l f o f t h e a p p l l c a n t , t h n t

t h c c i r c u m s t a n c e s were c l e a r l y s u c h as t o make I t a p p r o p r ~ n t e

and desirable t h a t a n o r d e r b e made negativing any consequences

of t h e i n v a l l d l t y i n q u e s t l o n a n d t h a t s u c h a n order c o u l d

I

n o t l n v c l v e s t a n d a b l y , p l a c e d c o n s ~ d e r a b l e l n j u s t l c e t o a n y p e r s o n . T h c a p p l l c a n t , undzr-

e m p h a s l s o n t h e fac t t h a t t h e

r e l e v a l l t b r e a c h o f t h e R u l e s was t h e r e s u l t OP a wldc - sp read

a n d l o n g - e s t a b l l s h e d r n l s c o n c e p t l o n and d ld n o t l n v o l v e a n y

e l e m e n t o f d l s h o n e s t y or conscious d l y r e g a r d of t h c r e q u i r c r n e n t s

of t h e R u l e s . I t w a s a l so s u b m i t t e d , o n b e h a l f o f t h e a p p l ~ c a n t ,

t h a t t h e r e l e v a n t b r e a c h o f t h e H u l c s p r o d u c e d , I n t h e c'Lrc:m-

s t a n c e s , a r e s u l t w h l c h was b o t h mow r e a s o n a b l c a n d more l a l r

t h a n would have been t h e case I f t h e R u l c s h a d b e e n s t r i c t l y

o b s e r v e d i n t h e r e l e v a n t r e s p e c t . I n t h l s r e g a r d , l t was

s u b m l t t e d t h a t a r e c e n t p u r p o r t e d amendment t o t h e R u l e s 01

the Union f i n a n c i a l b u t h l s t o r l c a l l y u n f i n a n c i s l a imed a t e n s u r l n g t h a t , 111 f u t u r e c l c c t l o n s , c u r r e n l l y

mcmbers i \ould be g ~ v c n

t h e o p p o r t u n i t y of v o t l n g l n d l c a t e d t h a t t h l s was a vlew which

-11-

e n J o y e d s t r o n g s u p p o r t w l t h l n t h c U n l o n . I t was l u r t h c r sub-

m i t t e d t h a t t h e p u r p o r t e d amendment of t h e Rulcs 1 1 1 q u e s t l o n

wa5 r e l e v a n t I n t h e s e n s e t h a t a n y new e l e c t i o n s resulting

from t h e r e f u s a l o f t h e C o u r t t o make a n o r d e r I n t h e p r e s r , n t

p r o c c e d l n z s w o u l d be h e l d i n a c c o r d a n c e with t h e procedure

a d o p t e d I I I t h e d l s p u t e d e l e c t l o n s . !Ye have referred t o t h e

a

r e l e v a n t "amendment" t o t h e R u l e s a s / " p u r p o r t e d a m e n d m e n t "

fo r t h e r e a s o n t h a t t h e r e s p o n d e n t s submitted t h c ~ t t h e a n c n d -

ment i n q u e s t i o n h a d n e v e r b e c n v a l l d l y e f f c c t e d to t h e R1:lt.s

a n d t h e r e is p l a i n l y much f o r c c 111 t h a t s u b m l s s l o n . K C s h : t l l

however , l o r t h e p u r p o s e s o t t h c p r e s e n t a p p l l c a t l o n , a s s u m e

t h a t s u c h amendment cas v a l i d l y e f f e c t e d .

T h e r e IS, i n o u r v i e b . c o n s i d e r a b l c force I n t h e

i applicant's s u b m l s s l o n t h a t it was, i n t h e c l r c u m s t a n c e s l v 1 l l c h

e x i s t e d , b o t h f a n a n d r e a s o n a b l e , as a n abstract p r o p o s l t ~ o n ,

t h a t mcmbers who were c u r r e n t l y f ~ n a n c l a l b u t h l s t o r l c a l l y

u n f ~ n a n c l a l s h o u l d b e g i v e n t h e opportunity of v o t i n g 011 t he

e l e c t l o n s . L e v e l s of employment i n t h c l n d u s t r y In whlch

members of t h e U n i o n are e n g a g c d h a v c h i s t o r i c a l l y v a r i e d b o t h

o n a n a b s o l u t e a n d s e a s o n a l b a s l s . T h e Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h has,

l

i I n many I n s t a n c e s , a d o p t e d t h e a p p r o a c h t h a t a membcr who h a 5

f a i l e d t o p a y 111s c o n t r l b u t l o n i n r e s p e c t of a p a s t p e r i o d

when h e was h e h a d n o t o b t a l n e d n o t e m p l o e e d I n t h e i n d u s t r y s h o u l d , e v e n t h o u i ; l ~

a clearance t l c k c t ( u n d e r Hule 39) 111

r e s p e c t o i that pe r iod , b e i s s u e d w i t h a c u r r e n t C i n a n c i a l

t i c k e t upon h l s r c s u m p t ~ o n 0 1 work I n t h c ~ . n d u s L r y a n d paymc>nt

of l h e s p e a k i n g , i t would seem c o n t r l b u t l o n I n r e s p e c t o f t h e c u r r e n t p c r l o d . S t r l c t l y

t o be a breach O C t h e H u l c s (Rulc G(1)

-12-

and Rule 10) f o r a c u r r e n t f i n a n c i a l t i c k e t w h i c h , 011 lts

face , p r o c l a l m s t h e h o l d e r ' s entitlement t o t h e p r i v l l c g e s

of membershlp, t o b c i s s u e d t o a rrmber i n thcse c i r c u m s t n v c e s .

Once t h e t i c k e t h a s b e e n issued however , It 1s a p p a r e n t t h a t

t h e h o l d e r of It would be likely '-0 a s s u m e t h a t t h e p r o \ l s - - o n s

of Rule 10 were n o t o p e r a t i v e so as, t o dcem him t o be un-

f l n a n c i a l and t o e x c l u d e hlm from ":%l1 t h e p r i v l l e g e s . . . of

membership",

On t h e o t h e r h a n d , as has been s a i d , t h e members of

t h e Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h o f t h e U ~ I O I L were c n t l t l e d , as a matter

b o t h o f l ~ a n d J u s t i c e , w t o a s s u m e t h a t t h c c lectxons of t h e

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

w i t h t h e R u l e s p r e s c r i b i n g t h e n lapner I n w h l c h s u c h r c p r e s e n t -

a t l v e s wt're t o b e e l e c t e d . T h o s e s t a n d i n g f o r o f f l c e I n t h e

Union were, as a mat tc r of law a n d j u s t l c e , c n t l t l c d t o hnbc

t h e s u c c e s s or f a i l u r e of t h e l r c a n d i d a t u r e d e t c r m i n e d i n

a c c o r d a n c e w l t h t h o s e R u l e s . I t may well be t h a t , i f the

o p p o r t u n i t y t o v o t e h a d n o t b e e n e s t e n d e d t o t h e more t h a n

1600 historically u n f l n a n c i a l m e m b c r s , o n e or b o t h of t h e two

r e s p o n d e n t s or one or more of the o t h e r u n s u c c c s s i u l c a n d ~ d a t e s

w o u l d h a v e s u c c e s s f u ; c a n d i d a t e s h a v e b e e n d e p r l v c d o f b e e n s u c c c s s f u l . What I S c lear 1s t h a t t h c un-

t h c o p p o r t u n i t y

of h a v i n g t h e s u c c e s s or f a l l u r e of t h e l r c x n d l d a t u r e d c t e r -

I

mlned 111 e c c o r d a n c e w l t h t h e r e l e v a n t p r o v ~ s i o n s of t h e R u l e s

o f t h e Unlon .

I n t h e s e c l r c u m s t a n c c s , It c a n n o t , 1 n our v i c w , be

s a l d t h a t c o n s i d c r a t i o n s of w h a t is Talr a n d J u s t makc i t

a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t a n order r e c t i f y ~ n g thc r e l e v a n t i n l a l ~ c i ~ t y

-13-

I c e r t i f y f h a t t h l s a d t h c t w e l v e

preceding pagcs arc n t r u e copy o l

t h e R e a s o n s for Judgment herein of

t h e i r H o n o u r s Nr. Jus t l cc J B .

Sweeney, Mr. J u s t l c e I i ee ly and Mr.

J u s t l c e i leane .