Ishara Pollmeier v Woolworths Group Limited

[2022] FWC 1254

[2022] FWC 1254

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.394—Unfair dismissal

Ishara Pollmeier
v

Woolworths Group Limited

(U2022/4934)

COMMISSIONER O’NEILL MELBOURNE, 23 MAY 2022

Application for relief from unfair dismissal – incomplete application – dismissal under s.587 at the Commission’s initiative.

1. On 1 May 2022, Ms Ishara Pollmeier made an application to the Fair Work Commission for a remedy for unfair dismissal pursuant to s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act).

1. The application was incomplete in that Ms Pollmeier did not pay the required fee or file a completed waiver form.

1. On 3 May 2022, the Commission attempted to contact Ms Pollmeier on her nominated telephone number to discuss payment of the required fee however, she did not answer the call. A voicemail message was left requesting she return the phone call to complete payment of the required fee.

1. Later that day, the Commission emailed correspondence to Ms Pollmeier’s nominated email address advising that her application required payment of the filing fee or a completed waiver form if she wished to proceed with the application. That correspondence also warned that if payment is not made or a waiver form is not received within 14 days, the application may be dismissed. An SMS notification was also sent to Ms Pollmeier’s nominated telephone number, advising that there was a problem with her application and requesting she contact the Commission.

1. A final attempt to contact Ms Pollmeier was made by the Commission on 16 May 2022 to obtain payment or a completed waiver form. The call was not answered and a voicemail message was left advising her that payment of the required fee was still outstanding.

1. To date there has been no response from Ms Pollmeier, the required fee has not been paid and a completed waiver form has not been received.

1. Section 395 of the FW Act, which deals with application fees, provides as follows:

395 Application fees

(1) An application to the FWC under this Division must be accompanied by any fee prescribed by the regulations.

(2) The regulations may prescribe:

(a) a fee for making an application to the FWC under this Division; and

(b) a method for indexing the fee; and

(c) the circumstances in which all or part of the fee may be waived or refunded.

1. Section 587(1) of the FW Act provides:

587 Dismissing applications

(1) Without limiting when the FWC may dismiss an application, the FWC may dismiss an application if:

(a) the application is not made in accordance with this Act; or

(b) the application is frivolous or vexatious; or

(c) the application has no reasonable prospect of success.

1. Having regard to the circumstances of this matter, I am satisfied that as the application was not accompanied by the fee prescribed by the FW Act, the application was not made in accordance with the FW Act. As such, the application is dismissed pursuant to s.587(1)(a) of the FW Act. An Order to this effect will be issued shortly.

COMMISSIONER

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