Jane Dixon v Hazeldene's Chicken Farm Proprietary Limited

[2023] FWC 147

[2023] FWC 147

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.365 - Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal

Jane Dixon
v

Hazeldene's Chicken Farm Proprietary Limited

(C2022/5925)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT MILLHOUSE MELBOURNE, 20 JANUARY 2023

Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal – application dismissed.

1. Jane Dixon (applicant) has made an application under s 365 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The applicant alleges that they were dismissed in contravention of the general protection provisions in Part 3-1 of the Act.

1. The application was not accompanied by the fee prescribed by the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) (regulations) or by a completed application for waiver of the filing fee (waiver application). The applicant has not responded to correspondence from the Commission alerting them to this deficiency, nor has the deficiency been rectified. I have decided to dismiss the application for the following reasons.

Context

1. The application was made on 25 August 2022, being filed by the applicant’s representative.

1. On 29 August 2022, the Commission called the applicant to advise that the filing fee was unpaid and provided information on how to make a waiver application. An email was sent to the applicant and her representative the same day to the same effect. The email additionally put the applicant on notice that the matter was at risk of being dismissed.

1. On 13 September 2022, the Commission called the applicant and advised that the application remained unpaid.

1. On 15 September 2022, the Commission emailed the applicant and her representative advising that the application required payment of the filing fee or a completed waiver application if they wished to proceed with the application. The email put the applicant on notice that the application was at risk of being dismissed.

1. The Commission made further attempts to contact the applicant on her nominated telephone number on 21 September and 26 September 2022. The applicant answered the latter call, but said she was busy in the supermarket. The Commission advised the applicant to return the call as soon as possible as the application was at risk of being dismissed.

1. The applicant emailed the Commission on 26 September 2022 noting that she had no data and was unable to call. The Commission responded seeking information from the applicant as to a suitable time for the Commission to call.

1. The applicant emailed the Commission on 5 October 2022 notifying the Commission that her phone was cut off.

1. On 18 January 2023, the Commission made a number of unsuccessful attempts to call the applicant.

1. To date, the applicant has not paid the filing fee or filed a completed waiver application.

Legislative framework

1. In relation to an application made pursuant to s 365 of the Act, s 367(1) provides that the application “must be accompanied by any fee prescribed by the regulations.” At the time the application was made, the regulations prescribed a fee of $77.80. The regulations also allow for an application to be made for the fee to be waived.

1. Section 587 of the Act provides as follows:

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), the 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) The FWC may dismiss an application:

(a) on its own initiative; or

(b) on application.

Consideration and conclusion

1. The applicant has neither paid the filing fee nor sought a fee waiver. Accordingly, the application is not made in accordance with s 367 of the Act.

1. The applicant has taken no action to address the deficiency despite being notified of it by the Commission on multiple occasions. In these circumstances, I have decided to exercise my discretion to dismiss the application in accordance with s 587(1)(a) of the Act.

1. The application is dismissed.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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