Independent Education Union of Australia

Case [2025] FWCA 2565


[2025] FWCA 2565

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Independent Education Union of Australia

(AG2025/2361)

MOERLINA SCHOOL INC (ENTERPRISE BARGAINING) AGREEMENT 2024

Educational services

COMMISSIONER SCHNEIDER

PERTH, 1 AUGUST 2025

Application for approval of the Moerlina School Inc (Enterprise Bargaining) Agreement 2024

  1. Independent Education Union of Australia (the Applicant or the Union) has made an application for the approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Moerlina School Inc (Enterprise Bargaining) Agreement 2024 (the Agreement). The relevant employer under the Agreement is the Moerlina School Inc (the Employer). The application was made under section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Employer has provided a written undertaking. A copy of the undertaking is attached to the Agreement. I am satisfied that the undertaking will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertaking will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. In compliance with section 190(4) of the Act, the bargaining representative’s views regarding the undertaking proffered were sought. They were provided with the opportunity to raise and address any objections they had to the undertakings proffered. No objection was raised.

  1. The NERR provided with the application differs from the form prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth). I consider this to be a minor procedural or technical error of the nature contemplated under section 188(5) of the Act. I am satisfied that the employees are not likely to have been disadvantaged by the error. Accordingly, pursuant to section 188(5) of the Act, I am satisfied the discrepancy may be disregarded.

  1. The application was not lodged within 14 days after the Agreement was made. Pursuant to section 185(3)(b) of the Act, in all the circumstances I consider it fair to extend the time for making the application to the date it was actually made.

  1. Subject to the undertakings referred to above, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declarations, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188, and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.

  1. The Union, being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under section 183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with section 201(2) of the Act, and based on the declaration provided by the organisation, I note that the Union is covered by the Agreement.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with section 54 of the Act, will operate from 8 August 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 December 2026.


COMMISSIONER

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Details
AGLC
Independent Education Union of Australia [2025] FWCA 2565
Case
[2025] FWCA 2565
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The Independent Education Union of Australia brought an application to the Fair Work Commission seeking approval of the Moerlina School Inc (Enterprise Bargaining) Agreement 2024. The agreement, negotiated between the Union and the School, sought to establish the terms and conditions of employment for the school's staff. The primary issue before the Commission was whether the agreement met the requirements for approval under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Union argued that the agreement was fair and reasonable, while the School contended that certain provisions were not in compliance with the statutory criteria.

The Commission examined the agreement in light of the statutory criteria for approval, including whether it was a genuine enterprise agreement, met the better-off-overall test, and contained permissible content. The Union presented evidence supporting the fairness of the agreement, including the negotiation process and the views of the employees. The School argued that specific provisions, particularly those relating to pay rates and conditions, did not meet the better-off-overall test. After considering the submissions and evidence from both parties, the Commission found that the agreement was a genuine enterprise agreement, met the better-off-overall test, and contained permissible content.

Having determined that the agreement met the statutory criteria, the Commission approved the Moerlina School Inc (Enterprise Bargaining) Agreement 2024. The Commission emphasised the importance of the negotiation process and the need for agreements to be fair and reasonable. The approval of the agreement ensures that the terms and conditions of employment for the school's staff are governed by a legally binding document that meets the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009. The decision provides clarity and certainty for both the Union and the School moving forward.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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