| [2023] FWC 1185 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.394—Unfair dismissal
Julian Camilo Rivas Acosta
v
Srg Property Pty Ltd
(U2023/1831)
| VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI | SYDNEY, 19 MAY 2023 |
Application for an unfair dismissal remedy.
Julian Camilo Rivas Acosta (the applicant) was employed by Srg Property Pty Ltd (the respondent) from the 21st of February 2022 through to the 15th of February 2023.
On the 7th of March 2023, the applicant made an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).
The respondent objected to the application on the basis that the applicant did not meet the minimum employment period required to lodge an application under section 394 of the Fair Work Act 2009.
On the 1st of May 2023, correspondence was sent to the applicant in relation to the jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent and he was required to respond by the 8th of May 2023. No response was received from the applicant at this time.
On the 10th of May 2023, further correspondence was sent to the applicant directing him to provide a response by 5:00pm on the 15th of May 2023. He was advised that in the absence of a reply, his application may be dismissed.
To date, the applicant has not responded to the jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent, or any further correspondence sent by my Chambers in writing.
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
<PR762048>
- AGLC
- Julian Camilo Rivas Acosta v Srg Property Pty Ltd [2023] FWC 1185
- Case
- [2023] FWC 1185
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The central legal issue was whether the Commission could dismiss the application for want of prosecution. The Vice President examined section 587(1) of the Act, which provides the Commission with the power to dismiss an application without limitation to the circumstances outlined in subsections (1)(a), (b), and (c). The Vice President concluded that the Commission had the authority to dismiss the application on its own initiative, even if the application did not fall under the specific grounds mentioned in the subsections. Given the applicant's failure to respond to correspondence and objections, the Vice President determined that the application had no reasonable prospects of success and was effectively dismissed for want of prosecution.
The Vice President decided to dismiss the application for want of prosecution pursuant to section 587(3)(a) of the Fair Work Act 2009. The dismissal was based on the applicant's failure to respond to jurisdictional objections and correspondence from the Commission. An order to this effect was issued with the decision, effectively concluding the proceedings without reaching the merits of the unfair dismissal claim.
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