| [2023] FWC 518 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.394—Unfair dismissal
Jamie Walsh
v
Sheryne Sayed Body Hair Beauty Pty Ltd
(U2023/408)
| VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI | SYDNEY, 2 MARCH 2023 |
Application for an unfair dismissal remedy.
Jamie Walsh (the applicant) was employed by Sheryne Sayed Body Hair Beauty Pty Ltd (the respondent) from the 1st of July 2019 until she was dismissed on the 15th of January 2023.
On the 16th of January 2023, the applicant made an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).
The legal business name nominated by the respondent in their F3 – Employer’s Response Form in this matter was Sheryne El-kak.
The respondent also raised an objection in the F3 – Employer’s Response Form stating that the applicant earned higher than the income threshold, stating the applicant earned $166,400.
On the 10th of February 2023, correspondence was sent to the applicant in relation to the jurisdictional issues mentioned above and she was required to respond by the 17th of February 2023. No response was received at this time.
Further correspondence was sent to the applicant on the 20th of February 2023 and she was required to respond by 5:00pm the 23rd of February 2023. It was in this correspondence that the applicant was advised her application would be dismissed without any notice if no response was received.
To date, the applicant has not responded to any of the correspondence sent by my Chambers.
Section 587 of the 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 prospects of success.
(2) Despite paragraphs (1)(b) and (c), FWC must not dismiss an application under section 365 or 773 on the ground that the application:
(a) is frivolous or vexatious; or
(b) has no reasonable prospects of success.
(3) FWC may dismiss an application:
(a) on its own initiative; or
(b) on application.
The words, “Without limiting when FWC may dismiss an application” at the commencement of s.587(1) of the Act, establish that the jurisdiction of the Commission to dismiss an application is not limited to the circumstances set out in s.587(1)(a), (b) and (c).
In the circumstances I have decided to dismiss the application for want of prosecution pursuant to s.587(3)(a) of the Act.
An order to that effect will issue with this decision.
VICE PRESIDENT
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
<PR751338>
- AGLC
- Jamie Walsh v Sheryne Sayed Body Hair Beauty Pty Ltd [2023] FWC 518
- Case
- [2023] FWC 518
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The key legal issue before the court was whether the applicant's failure to respond to correspondence from the Commission warranted dismissal of her application. The Vice President noted that section 587 of the Act allowed the Commission to dismiss an application if it was not made in accordance with the Act, was frivolous or vexatious, or had no reasonable prospects of success. The Vice President concluded that the words "without limiting when the FWC may dismiss an application" in section 587(1) of the Act meant that the Commission's jurisdiction to dismiss an application was not limited to the circumstances set out in s.587(1)(a), (b) and (c). As such, the Vice President decided to dismiss the application for want of prosecution under s.587(3)(a) of the Act.
The Vice President ordered that the application be dismissed for want of prosecution. This decision will be accompanied by an order to that effect.
Orders
Orders of the court
Full text does not contain this section.
Background
Background to the litigation
Full text does not contain this section.
Evidence
Evidence Before The Court
Full text does not contain this section.
Decision
Reasons for decision
Full text does not contain this section.
Ratio Decidendi
Legal Principle Established
Full text does not contain this section.