Lancaster, Kenneth Lawrence & Canny, Michael James v The Municipal Officers Association of Australia

[1980] FCA 149

.

I n d u s t ! i;11 l a w - r c g l s t e r e d o r n n n l z ~ t i o n - w h ? t h e r u l e

i m p o s e s r e s t r l c t i o n s t h a t r e oppressive, ~ ~ n r e a s o n a b l c o r

u n ~ u s t - ru l e con f ln jnq t o members of Drhnch commll-tcG of

management the r lgh t to nomlnatc candic!a tes Eol- hranch

s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y - Conc j l a t l sn and

-~ _________

A r b l t r h t l c n Act 1S04 s.140(1) ( c )

- .__._

Coram:	KEELY Li.
Date o f Order:	4 December 1 9 8 3

-

Where made: Me1 bourne

. .

I N T H E FEDERqL COURT OF A U 9 R A L T A ) No. V . 1 5 of 1980

) No. V.16 of 1 9 8 0

V I C O R I A D I S T R I C T R E G I S T R Y __

I N D U S T R I A L DIVISION

I N THE YATTER of t.he

C o n c l l l a t i o n a n d

A r b i t r a t i o n Act 1904

BEPWEEN: - R E N N E T H LAWRENCE LANCASTER

A p p l i c a n t

AND: T H E M U N I C I P A L OFFICERS

KSmrTAT 1 0 N OF AUSC RALIA

Respondent

AND BETWEEN: MICHAEL JAMES C A N N Y .-

A p p l i c a n t

AND: T H E M U N I C I P A L OFFTCERS

ASSOCIAP I O N OF AUSr MXIA __-_

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENP

4 December 198C KEELY J.

On 1 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 0 o r d e r s were made a t t h e i n s t a n c e of

Kenneth Lawrence Lancas te r and Mlchae James l Canny ca l l lng

upon t h e M u n i c l p a l Officers' A s s o c l a t i o n of A u s t r a l i a ( t h e

a s s o c l a t l o n ) t o show c a u s e why t h e C o u r t s h o u l d n o t make a

i

d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) of t h e r u l e s o f t h e

a s s o c i a t i o n ( t h e r u l e s ) c o n t r a v e n e s s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) o f t h e

2 .

C o n c l l l a t l o n a n d A r b i t r a t i o n A c t - 1904 ( t h e Act) I n s o f a r a s I t

p u r p o r t s t o r e q u l r e a n o m l n a t i o n f o r Fn e l ~ c t i o n f o r t h e

o f f i c e o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d / o r a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s s c r e t a r y

s igned management. by any two members o f t h e branch commit tee o f

to be

Mr Howard Nathan Q.C. a p p e a r e d f o r t h e t w o c l a i m a n t s

and M r Peter Gray of c o u n s e l a p p e a r e d f o r t h e a s s o c l a t i o n .

The two matters were h e a r d t o g e t h e r b y c o n s e n t . T h e t w o

c l a i m a n t s a r e a n d were a t a l l m a t e r i a l times members of the

a s s o c l a t l o n . T h e a s s o c i a t i o n 1s a n o r g a n l z a t l o n of emp1oyec.s

r e g i s t e r e d p u r s u a n t t o t h e Act. I t i s composed o f :

' l . . . t h e V i c t o r i a n B r a n c h , S t a t e E l e c t r i c i t y

Commiss lon o f V ic to r l a Branch , Tasman la Branch ,

Q u e e n s l a n d B r a n c h , S o u t h A u s t r a l l a n B r a n c h

( i n c l u d i n g N o r t h e r n T e r r i t o r y a n d B r o k e n H i l l ) ,

N e w S o u t h W a l e s B r a n c h , W e s t e r n A u s t r a l i a n

B r a n c h a n d s u c h o t h e r b r a n c h e s a s may be s e t u p

b y r e s c l u t l o n o f F e d e r a l C o u n c l l . "

A n e l e c t l o n f o r t h e p o s l t l o n s o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d

a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y o f t h e V l c t o r i a n B r a n c h ( t h e

b r a n c h ) i s b e l n g c o n d u c t e d p u r s u a n t t o s.170 o f t h e Act.

T h e r e is a f f i d d v i t e v l d e n c e b e f o r e t h e C o u r t h a t d o c u m e n t s

h a v e b e e n l o d g e d p u r p o r t l n g t o b e n o m i n a t i o n s o f t h e two

c l a m a n t s f o r t h e o f f i c e o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s i s t a n t

b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y r e s p e c t i v e l y i n t h e b r a n c h . T h o s e p u r p o r t e d

' n o m i n a t i o n s h a v e b o t h b e e n r e j e c t e d by t h e r e t u r n l n g o f f i c e r

a s b e i n g i n v a l l d o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t h e y w e r e n o t s i g n e d b y

3 .

two membcrs of t h c branch cominl t tee of rnanagenent a s required

by r u l e 73 ( b ) (X) of t h e r u l e s .

Rule 7 3 I n c l u d e s t h e f o l l o w i n g p r o v l s i o n s :

“73. Nominat ions

( a ) Form

A l l n o m l n a t l o n s s h a l l b e i n w r i t i n g i n t h e form

s e t o u t i ; l t h e s c h e d u l e t o t h e s e R u l e s and

s i g n e d b y t h e n o m i n e e o n a c c e p t i n g n o m l n a t l o n .

( b ) E l i g i b i l i t y f o r Nominat ion

(1) Only those members of t h e A s s o c i a t l o n who

a r e f l n a n c l a l p r e c e d l n g members i n a c c o r d a n c e w l t h R u l e

1 3 a s a n e l e c t l o n c l o s e s h a l l b e e n t l t l e d a t t h e l a s t d a y o f t h e month Immediately

t h e m o n t h i n w h l c h n o m i n a t l o n s f o r

t o nominate

or be nominated f o r a n y o f f i c e a p r e r e g u l s i t e

f o r w h i c h	1s	membership	a t t h a t e l e c t l o n .
...

(X) A S t o e l e c t i o n s f o r t h e o f f l c e s o f :

Br.lnch S e c r e t a r y

A s s i s t a n t B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y

: any two members of the Branch Commlt tee o f

Management	may	nomina te any pe r son .
...

T h e r e t u r n l n g o f f i c e r t o o k t h e v i e w t h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) (X)

r e q u l r e s t h a t n o m i n a t i o n s f o r t h e p o s i t i o n s o f b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s l s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y be s igned by two

members the o f b ranch ommit tee management o f and tha t

n o m l n a t l o n s w h i c h w e r e s i g n e d b y t w o p e r s o n s who were

f i n a n c i a l members of t h e b r a n c h b u t were n o t members o f the

.

4 .

branch committee of management did not c o n s t i t u t e v a l l d

n o m i n a t i o n s u n d e r t h a t r u l e .

Two a p p l i c a t i o n s u n d e r s.159 of t h e Act ( m a t t e r s V.

No. 1 7 and V. No. 1 8 of 1980) have been lodged by the p:esent

c l a i m a n t s i n r e s p e c t of t h e r e t u r n l n g o f f i c e r ' s a c t l o n i n

r e j e c t i n g t h e p u r p o r t e d w o n o m l n a t l o n s . In t h o s e

p r o c e e d i n g s t h e c l a i m a n t s a l l e g e t h a t t h e r e ~ e c t i o n o f t h e

nomina t ion I n e a c h case c o n s t i t u t e s a n " i r r e g u l a r l t y " . A t a n

l e a r l l e r h e a r i n g t h o s e a p p l i c a t i o n s w e r e j o i n e d b y c o n s e n t

w i t h t a p p l i c a t l o n s p r e s e n t e p r o c e e d i n g s fo r t h e p u r p o s e o f h e a r i n g

f o r i n t e r l m o r d e r s - which were made on 7

October 1 9 8 0 under s . 163 o f t he Act.

I n t h a t h e a r i n g Mr Na than , on beha l f of t h e present

c l a i m a n t s , c o n t e n d e d i n r e s p e c t o f t h e t w o s .159 a p p l l c a t i o n s

t h a t r u l e 73 , as a matter of c o n s t r u c t l o n o f t h e r u l e s , d i d

n o t r e q u i r e s e c r e t a r y t h a t n o m i n a t i o n s f o r t h e p o s i t i o n s o f b r a n c h

a n d a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y b e s i g n e d by two

members of t k e b r a n c h o m m i t t e e m a n a g e m e n t . o f T h a t

c o n t e n t i o n was c o n t r a r y t o t h e v l e w t a k e n b y t h e r e t u r n m g

o f f i c e r of t h e r u l e and was c o n t r a r y t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f

t h e r u l e s C o u r t o n b e h a l f o f which Mr t h e a s s o c i a t i o n . G r a y h a d s t a t e d w o u l d h e a d v a n c e d t o t h e

I n t h e p r e s e n t p r o c e e d i n g s Mr N a t h a n h a s c o n c e d e d t h a t

r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( x ) r e q u l r e s t h a t n o m l n a t l o n s of p e r s o n s w i s h i n g t o

5.

s t a n d f o r t h e o f f l c e o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y o r a s s l s t a n t b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r y m u s t b e i g n e d two by members of t h e b ranch

committee of management. No c o n t r a r y v i e w h a s b e e n a d v a n c e d

t o t h e C o u r t t h e s e i n p r o c e e d l n g s , b u t t h e C o u r t must

l n t e r p r e t h e r u l e b e f o r e I t c a n d e a l w i t h t h e a p p l i c a t i o n

under s.140 i n t h e p r e s e n t p r o c e e d 1 n g s .

A s t o t h i s q u e s t i o n M K Gray dvanccd a number o f

a r g u m e n t s b u t I o n l y f i n d I t n e c e s s a r y t o r e f e r t o t w o o f

them. One was based upon the manner in w h i c h r u l e 7 3 ( b )

m a k e s d e t a l l e d p r o v l s i o n f o r n o m i n a t i o n s f o r e l e c t i o n s f o r

v a r i o u s o t h e r o f f i c e s . T h e r i g h t t o c o m i n a t e a p e r s o n o r

e l i g l b l e member is conferred upon "any two merrbers" (of t h e

b r a n c h , s u b - b r a n c h o r w i t h l n a d l v l s l o n ) I n r e s p e c t o f t h o s e

o f f l c e s d e a l t w i t h i n c l a u s e s ( v i i i ) , ( I X ) , (xi) and ( x i i ) .

By way o f c o n t r a s t h e class g i v e n t h e r i g h t o n o n i n a t e a

p e r s o n o r e l i g i b l e member 1s a m o r e l l m l t e d o n e a s t o t h e

o f f i c e s r e f e r r e d t o i n c l a u s e s (iv) ( v ) , , ( V I ) and ( ~ 1 1 ) .

C lause ( X ) , w h i c h i s c l a u s e t h e p r s e n t l y u n d e r

c o n s i d e r a t i o n , f a l l s w i t h i n t h l s l a t t e r g r o u p .

T h e o t h e r a g u m e n t was b a s e d u p o n r u l e 7 4 ( b ) . I t

e x p r e s s l y r e f e r s t o " e a c h p e r s o n e n t i t l e d t o n o m l n a t e a

c a n d i d a t e " a n d c a s t s a d u t y upon t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f l c e r t o

fo rward a n o m l n a t l o n f o r m t o e a c h p e r s o n i n t h a t c l a s s .

H a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e c a r e f u l l y p r e p a r e d a r a u m e n t s a d v a n c e d b y

M K Gray and t o t h e c o n t e x t of t h e r u l e s a s a whole I have

. . . . _ , _ . . _ _ . _ _ _ _ I ._,-

c

6 .

come t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) (X) r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e

n o m i n a t l o n s o f c a n d i d s t e s f o r t h e p o s i . t l o n s o f b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y b e s l g n e d b y two

members of the branch comrnl t tee of management .

I t u r n t o c o n s l d e r w h e t h e r r u l e 73('2) (r) , S r>

c o n s t r u e d , c o n t r a v e n e s s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) of t h e Act in r e q u i r i n g t h e

n o m i n a t l o n s b e t o s i g n e d two by members of t h e b r a t l c h

committee of management.

Mr N a t h a n a d v a n c e d f i v e a r g u m e n t s I n support o f hls

c o n t e n t l o n t h a t t h e r u l e c o n t r a v e n e s t h e s e c t i o n . M K Gray

s u b m l t t e d t h a t f o u r o f t h o s e f i v e a r g u m e n t s w e r e d l r e c t e c l t o

t h e q u e s t i o n r e q u i r e d w h e t h e r t h e r u l e s f a l l c d t o make a p r o v i s l o n

by a p r o v l s l o n of t h e Act o r t h e R e g u l a t i o n s (see

s.140(1) ( a ) o f t h e A c t ) . I a c c e p t t ! l a t submission and a l s o

h l s s u b m i s s l o n a t t a c k t h a t t h o s e f o u r a rgu r r2n t s canno t found an

upon a s i n g l e r u l e s u c h a s r u l e 7 3 ( b ) (X). 'They c o u l d

l

o n l y s u p p o r t a c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e r u l e s a s a who12 f a i l t o

make a p r o v i s i c 2 r e q u i r e d b y t h e Act or t!le R e g u l a t i o n s . A s

t h e r u l e t o show c a u s e i n t h e s e p r o c e e d i n g s is l i m i t e d t o t h e

ques t lon w h e t h e r r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) c o n t r a v e n e s s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) of t h e

Act , I t a d v a n c e a r g u m e n t s i s n o t o p e n t o t h e c l a l r n a n t s i n t h e s e p r o c e e d l n g s t o

t h a t t h e r u l e s a s a whole f a i l t o make some

p r o v i s i o n w h i c h t h e Act o r R e g u l a t i o n s r e q u l r e s them t o make.

Mr Na than ' s r ema in ing a rgumen t &as ' h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) (X)

. .

.

7.

c o n t r a v e n e s s.140(1) of t h e Act i n t h a t i t Imposes upon

"members of t h e o r g a n l z a t l o n , c o n d i t l o n s ... o r r e s t r i c t i o n s

w h i c h , h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e o b ~ e c t s o f ( t h e Act) a n d t h e

p u r p o s e s o f t h e r g i s t r a t i o n o f r g a n i z a t i o n s u n d e r ( t h e

Act) a r e o p p r e s s l v e , u n r e a s o n a b l e a n d u n ] u s t " ( s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) ( c ) ) .

On e v i d e n c e t h e a s s o c i a t l o n t h g i v e n h a s

c o n s i d e r a t i o n t oh e q u e s t l o n o f w h e t h e r t h e b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r i e s a n d a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r i e s s h o u l d b e

members of t h e b ranch commi t t ee o f managemen t and a l so t o t he

q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r a n y two members o f the b ranch should be

e l i g i b l e t o n o m i n a t e c a n d l d a t e s f o r t h o s e twc o f f i c e s -

i n s t e a d of r e q u l r i n g t h a t s u c h a n o a l n a t i o n b e s i g n e d by two

membecs of t h e committee of management.

Mr Durham, t h e a s s i s t a n t f e d e r a l s e c r e t a r y o f t h e

a s s o c i a t i o n , i n a n a f f l d a v i t f i l e ? on b e h a l f o f t h e

r e s p o n d e n t a s s o c l a t i o n , b u t t e n d e r e d i n e v i d e n c e b y Mr

N a t h a n , g a v e t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e s e m a t t e r s . I n Apr l l 1 9 7 5 t h e

f e d e r a l c o u n c : l o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n d i s c u s s e d " c e r t a i n

u n s a t l s f a c t o r y f e a t u r e s o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n ' s R u l e s a n d t h e

e f f e c t o f c h a n g e s t o t h e C o n c l l i a t i o n & A r b i t r a t i o n Act 1 9 0 4

which came i n t o o p e r a t i o n i 1 9 7 3 " . T h e f e d e r a l c o u n c i l

r e s o l v e d :

" T h a t a s u b - c o m m i t t e e a t F e d e r a l l e v e l be

a p p o l n t e d t o r e v l e w t h e c o n s t l t u t l o n a n d r u l e s

o f t h e A s s o c l a t l o n , a n d recommend a n y r e v i s l o n

n e c e s s a r y . "

a.

I n February 1 9 7 6 t h e f e d e r a l e x e c u t l v e o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n

resolved:

"Tha t following t h e resolution o f F e d e r a l

Council i n Hobart i n 1 9 7 5 , a sub-commlttee

c o m p r ~ s l n g t h e F e d e r a l P r e s l d e n t , r e s i d e n t

Fede ra l V lce -Pres iden t and a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e

from the Victor lan and S.E.C.V. branches S P

formed	t o r e v l e w t h e A s s o c i a t i o n ' s c o n h t i t u t l o n
a n d	r u l e s

a n d Executive." r p o r t b a c k F e d e r a l t o

The sub-commit tee so appolnted reported to the federal

execu t ive on 30 March 1 9 7 7 making c e r t a i n p r o p o s a l s f o r

c o n s i d e r a t l o n by f e d e r a l c o u n c i l . I t p r o p o s e d t h e

p repa ra t ion o f a c o m p l e t e d r a f t s e t o f r u l e s a f t e r d i s c u s s l o n

by f e d e r a l council on mat te rs o f po l icy and d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h

branches a s t o t h e d r a f t . A t i t s meeting in Per th I n 1 9 7 7

federa l councl l reso lved:

"That Federa l Councl l au thor i se the i s sue o f a

d r a f t s e t Revlslon Sub-Committee, o f ru l e s i nco rpora t lng t he p roposa l s

a s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e r e p o r t o f t h e R u l e s

a s amended."

I n accordance w i t h t h i s r e s o l u t i o n t h e d r a f t r u l e s , t o g e t h e r

w i t h t h e c i r c u l a t e d t o a l l b r a n c h e s amended rules revls ion sub-commlt tee report , were

on 2 2 A p r i l 1 9 7 7 .

Comments were r ce ived from branches, including a

comment from th-. V ic to r i an branch, I n 2 l e t t c r d a t e d 9 June

." .

9.

1 9 7 7 t o the f e d e r a l s e c r e t a r y , w h l c h i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g

p a s s a g e s :

"Dear S i r ,

RP : Repor t on R u l e s R e v i s i o n .

-___

T h e B r a n c h C o m m i t t e e M a n a g e m e n t , o f a n d

s u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e B r a n c h E x e c u t i v e , h a s

c o n s i d e r e d t h e a b o v e Report a n d t h e D r a f t R u l e s

a s amendeed t o d a t e a n d w i s h t o make t h e

following comments.

F l r s t l y , i t i s o u r v i e w t h a t t h e F e d e r a l

S e c r e t a r y , A s s i s t a n t F e d e r a l S c c r e t a L y , B r a n c h

S e c r e t a r i e s a n d A s s i s t a n t B r a n c h S e c r e t a r l e s ,

where app l i cab le , shou ld be members of t h e i r

respective Commlttees f o r a l l p u r p o s e s ,

i n c l u d i n g v o t i n g t h e r e o n . T h e a r g u m e n t s I n s u p p o r t o f t h i s a r e b a s i c a l l y :

( a ) T h a t t h e s e r e q u i r e d o f f i c e r s o u g h t b e t o

tc, a d o p t a p o s i t i o n a d

~ n d l c a t e t h l s by t h e i r v o t e , a n d

( h ) T h a t a s t h e y a r e t o b e s u b j e c t o r a n k

and f l l e e l e c t i o n , t h e n t h e y o u g h t o

h a v e e q u a l r l g h t s w i t h o t h e r members o f

t h e i r C o m m l t t e e .

...

T h l r d l y , t h e B r a n c h C o m m l t t e e of Management

e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t e l e c t i o n s fo r F e d e r a l

S e c r e t a r y , A s s i s t a n t F e d e r a l S e c r e t a r y , B r a n c h

S e c r e t a r i e s and A s s i s t a n t B r a n c h S e c r e t a r i e s ,

w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e , s h o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d o n t h e

basis t h a t any 2 members shou ld be ab le t o

nomina te	any pe r son .
...

Y o u r s f a i t h f u l l y ,

G . Weaven S t a t e S e c r e t a r y "

A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e v i e w s e x p r e s s e d b y t h e v a r l o u s

. ..

10.

b r a n c h e s , t h e r u l e s r e v i s l o n s u b - c o m m i t t e e m a d e c e r t a i n

f u r t h e r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t o h e f d e r a l e x e c u t i v e o f t h e

a s s o c l a t l o n , i n c l u d i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g :

" T h e V l c t o r l a n a n d S . E . C . V . Branches h a v e

e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t Secretaries a n d

A s s i s t a n t S e c r e t a r i e s h o u l d b e m e m b e r s o f

t h e i r e s p e c t l v e c o m m i t t e e s f o r a l l p u r p o s e s .

T h e Victorian B r a n c h a l s o i s o f t h e v i e w t h a t

a n y m e m b e r c a n d l d a t e s s h o u l d b e l l g i b l e t o n o m i n a t e

f o r f u l l time o f f i c e s .

I n d e t e r m l n l n g t h e questions o f

( a ) p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f f u l l time e l e c t e d

o f f i c e r s a s p a r t o f t h e i r r e s p e c t l v e

c o m n i t t e e s a n d

(b) w h e t h e r e l i g i b i l i t y t o n o m i n a t e f o r

f u l l t lme o f f i c e s ( a s o p p o s e d t o

e l i g i b i l i t y t o b e n o m l n a t e d ) s h o u l d b e

o p e n t o a l l m e m b e r s ,

we a r e A s s o c l a t l o n r e a l l y d e t e r m l n i n g t h e way I n w h l c h t h e

wlll o p e r a t e I n t h e f u t u r e .

T r a d i t i o n a l u n i o n s t r u c t u r e s i n t h e c r a f t a n d

u n l o n s p a r t l c , p a t l o n h a v e i n v o l v e d f u l l

b l u e c o l l a r

i c o m m l t t e e s b y f u l l t lme

o f f i c i a l s a n d o p e n o m i n a t l o n s f r o m t h e r a n k

and f l l e h a s m e a n t , p a r t l c u l a r l y a t w i t h r a n k a n d f l l e l e c t i o n s . T h l s

t h e F e d - , r a l l e v e l , a

d o m i n a n c e o f u l l tlme o f f l s i a l s , t h e F e d e r a l

E x e c u t i v e i n some c a s e s b e i n 9 made u p a l m o s t

e n t i r e l y o f f u l l time o f f i c e r s .

I n o u r C o l l e g i a t e a r e a , t h e t r a d l t l o n h a s b e e n d l f f e r e n t .

e l e c t i o n s o f f u l l time o f f l c e r s h a s

l e d t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f ' c a r e e r ' o f f l c i a l s

a c t i n g I n a n e x e c u t i v e a d v i s o r y c a p a c l t y t o a n

a c t l v e , i n f o r m e d l e v e l o fe c t e d p a r t - t l m e

o f f l c l a l s .

Demonst rab ly , bo th sys tems have worked and t h e

d e c l s i o n r e q u i r e d is 'which suits t h e p u r p o s e s

of MOA bes t ? '

Looklng a t o n e a r e a , t h e S . E . C . V . Branch , a

s u b s t a n t i a l a r g u m e n t c o u l d b e made f o r t h e o p e n

n o m l n a t l o n , f u l l p a r t l c i p a t l o n t y p e s t r u c t u r e .

r

. . . ...

11.

T h e r e 1s o n e e m p l o y m e n t a r e a a n d l{- 1s

n e c e s s a r y t o h a v e a complete knowledge of t h e

S.E.C.V. t o e f f e c t l v e l y work 111 t h e b r a n c h .

However i n t h e r e m a i r d e r o f t h e A s s o c i a t i c n a

m u c h m o r e c o m p l e x p r o b l e m d i o f f e r i n g

employe r s a n d d i f f e r i n g i n d u s t r i e s c x i s t s , s n d

t h e a r g u m e n t f o r t h e ' c o l l e g i a t e ' t y p e a p p r o a c h

is t h e s t r o n g e r .

T h e V i c t o r l a n B r a n c h a r g u e s t h a t t h e f u l l time

o f f i c e r s o u g h t t o b e r e q u i r e d t o a d o p t a

p o s i t l o n a n d i n d i c a t e t h i s b y t h e i r v o t e .

E x p e r i e n c e I n a l l Branches and Fede ra l ly is

t h a t f u l l recommendat ions tlme o f f i c e r s i n v a r i a b l y rnake

on most lssues, t h e r e b y c l c a r l y

a d o p t i n g a p o s i t i o n - sometimes more so t h a n i f

m e r e l y v o t l n g . A d d l t i o n a l l y , t h e y a r g u e t h a t

r a n k a n d f l l e e l e c t i o n o u g h t t o g i v e e q u a l

r i g h t s w i t h o t h e r members of the Commit tee .

T h l s a r g u m e n t d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y f o l l o w . T h e

S e c r e t a r y h a s r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s t h a t C o m m i t t e e

m e m b e r s d o n o t h a v e , j u s t a s t h e r e v e r s e

a p p l i e s .

Hav ing r eqa rd t o a l l o f t h e f a c t o r s i n v o l v e d ,

the Sub-Committee 1s o f t h e v i e w t h a t the

s t r u c t u r e p r o p o s e d I n t h e d r a f t r u l e s h e

m a i n t a l n e d , h o w e v e r we r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h i s

i s s u e o u g h t t o be r e s o l v e d b e f o r e t h e c o m p l e t e d

r u l e s a r e p u t f o r a v o t e .

Recommended:

T h a t F e d e r a l E x e c u t l v e d e t e r m l n e :

1. S h o u l d t h e A s s o c i a t i o n r u l e s p r o v i d e

t h a t f u l l time e l e c t e d o f f i c e r s b e

members of t h e l r r e s p e c t l v e -0mmlttees.

2. S h o u l d t h e A s s o c i a t l o n r u l e s p r o v i d e

t h a t a n y member b e e l i g i b l e t o n o m i n a t e

c a n d i d a t e s f o r f u l l time o f f l c c s . "

On 1 J u l y 1 9 7 7 t h e f d e r a l e x e c u t i v e o f t h e

a s s o c i a t i o n d e a l t w i t h t f u r t h e r e r e p o r t o f t h e r u l e s

r e v l s i o n	s u b - c o m m i t t e e	a n d	t h e	f o l l o w l n g	r e s o l u t i o n s	werc
p a s s e d :

12.

"Tha t t h e s e c o n d r e p o r t o f t h e Ru'.es R e v l s l o n

Sub-CommLttee and t h e r e c o m m e n d a t l o n s c o n t a i n e d

t h e r e i n b e a d o p t e d .

T h a t t h c A s s o c i a t i o n r u l e s s h o u l d n o t p r o v i d e

t h a t f u l l - t l m e e lec ted o f f l c e r s be members o f

t h e i r r e s p e c t l v e C o m m i t t e e s . "

I t was moved by M r P e t e r s o n , a f e d e r a l e x e c u t i v e member f rom

t h e V l c t o r i a n b r a n c h :

" T h a t I n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f d e m o c r a c y t h e

A s s o c i a t i o n r u l e s p r o v l d e t h a t a n y member be

e l i g i b l e	t o	n o m i n a t e	c a n d l d a t e s	f o r	f u l l - t l m e
o f f l c e s . "

T h i s m o t i o n l a p s e d f o r want of a s e c o n d e r .

T h e f e d e r a l e x e c u t i v e o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n o n 5 Augus t

1 9 7 7 r e s o l v e d t o re fe r t h e q u e s t i o n o f new r u l e s t o a p o s t a l

b a l l o t o f t h v f e d e r a l c o u n c l l w h i c h w a s c o n d u c t e d a n d

conc luded on 19 August 1977. I t r e s u l t e d i n t h e unanlmous

a d o p t i o n b y t h e f e d e r a l c o u n c i l o f new r u l e s which i nc luded

t h e p r e s e n t r u l e s 35 and 73 and thc form o f nomina t ion now

c o n t a i n e d i n t h e r u l e s . T h e new r u l e s w e r e c e r t i f i e d b y t h e

Industrial R e g i s t r a r on 30 December 1977 and came into

o p e r a t i o n o n 1 J a n u a r y 1 9 7 8 .

I t 1s c l e a r f r o m t h i s e v l d e n c e t h a t h e a s s o c i a t i o n

g a v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o w h a t was a d e s l r a b l e form of r u l e s f o r

i ts particular neecls. T h e a s s o c i a t l o n was obviously aware

13.

t h a t , I n t h e words o f t h e recommcndat lon to which I have

a l r e a d y referred, i t was " r e a l l y d e t e r m l n - n g the way i n w h i c h

t h e a s s o c l a t l o n ( w o u l d ) o p e r a t e i n t h e f u t u r c " .

I a c c e p t Mr G r a y ' s u b m i s s i o n t h a t , s u b ~ e c t t o t h e

Act , i t is a m a t t e r f o r t h e a s s o c i a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e w h a t

r u l e s a r e b e s t s u l t e d t o i t s n e e d s h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e

s t r u c t u r e dnd nature o f t h e organisation and t he su r rou l ld ing

c i r c u m s t d n c e s . A s t h e C o u r t s a i d i n C r e a l y v . Commonwealth

Bank O f f i c e r s ' A s s o c i a t i o n ( 1 9 5 8 ) 1 F.L.R. 1 5 3 a t p . 1 5 7 , i n a

p a s s a g e q u o t e d b y Bowen C . J . i n R e A l r l l n e I l o s t e s s e s '

-- A s s o c i a t i o n - ( j u d g m e n t d e l l v e r e d 1 Oc tobe r 1 9 8 0 - n o t y e t

r e p o r t e d ) :

"The n a t u r e of t h e p r o v i s i o n s t o be made f o r

t h e e l e c t i o n o f commlttees and o f f i c e r s i s

p r l m a r l l y a matter f o r t h e members of t h e

a s s o c i a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e

n a t u r e -f t h a t body and the c i rcumstances which

e x l s t i n r e l a t i o n t o i ts memberrhip."

I t is n o t f o r t h e C o u r t t o f o r m a n y o p l n l o n a s t o t h e t y p e of

r u l e s w h i c h i t c o n s i d e r s w o u l d b e b e s t s u i t e d f o r a n

o r g a n i z a t i o n l e t a l o n e t o seek t o impose i ts opi-nion upon a

r e g i s t e r e d o r g a n i z a t l o n . A s O'Mara J. s a i d i n T h o r n t o n v .

Mackay (1945) 56 C.A.H. 5 6 1 a t p.590:

"... I do n o t c o n c e i v e i t t o b e t h e f u n c t i o n of

t h e C o u r t t o p u t i n t o e f f e c t i t s own o p l n l o n s

a s t o w h a t 1s d e s l r a b l e I n t h e way of u n l o n

r u l e s	.	. .	' I .
.. .

14.

I n t h e s e p r o c e e d l n g s t h e C o u r t ' s t u n c t l o n i s t o d c t e r m i n e

whether r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) c o n t r a v e n e s s.140(1) ( c ) of t h e A c t .

On t h i s q u e s t i o n Mr N a t h a n a r g u e d t h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X )

i m p o s e s u p o n m e m b e r s c o n d i t i o n s a n d r e s t r i c t i o n s w h i c h a r e

o p p r e s s i v e , u n r e a s o n a b l e a n d u n j u s t I n t h a t i t limlts t h e

r i g h t t o nominate a p e r s o n f o r t h e o f f i c e o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y

o r a s s l s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y t o t h o s c m e m b e r s o f t h e

a s s o c i a t i o n who a r e members of t h e b r a n c h o m m l t t e e o f

m a n a g e m e n t . h i s s u b m l s s i o n I n t h e r u l e c o n t r a v e n e s

s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) ( c ) b o t h b y t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s I t imposes upon members

who may a l s o by w i s h t o

b e t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s n o m l n a t e d f o r o n e o f t h e two o f f l c e s a n d

i t imposes upon members who may wish

t o n o m i n a t e s o m e p e r s o n f o r e i t h e r o f f l c e . T h e r u l e s d o nor:

s p e c i f y t h e number of members of the commlttee of management

of t h e b r a n c h b u t I w a s i n f o r m e d b y c o l - q s e l t h a t t h e r e a re 18

members.

Mr N a t h a ? r e l i e d upon t h e o b j e c t s e t o u t i n s . 2 ( f ) o f

t h e Act, w h i c h r e a d s a s f o l l o w s :

" ( f ) e n c o u r a g e t o t h e d e m o c r a t l c c o n t r o l o f

o r g a n l z a t l o n s s o r e g i s t e r e d a n d t h e f u l l

p a r t l c l p a t l o n m e m b e r s b y o f s u c h a n

o r g a n i z a t l o n a f f a i r s t h e o f i n t h e

o r g a n i z a t i o n . "

He	s t r e s s e d	t h e	i m p o r t a n c e	o f	t h e	r o l e	o f	t h e	b r a n c h
.

1 5 .

s e c r e t a r y and he r e l l e d I n par t ] , -u la r upon r u l e 4 2 ( c ) whlch

r eads a s	fo l lows :
" (c ) The Branch Sec re t a ry s h a l l be the ch le f
e x e c u t i v e o f f l c e r o f t h e Branch. Between
meetings of t h e Brdnch Commlttee of Management
he sha l l conduc t and manage t h e a f f a i r s o f the
Branch.
ne s h a l l Branch President c o n s u l t on mat te rs o f po l lcy w i t h t h e

... a s t o t h e c o u r s e t o b e

pursued i n any matter pending the n e x t s i t t l n g

of	t h e Branch	Commlttee	of	ManagemeAt.
...

He s h a l l represented and t o be heard on any b e empowered a t t e n d t o b e o r

matter a t

any m e e t i n q w i t h l n the Branch and s u b l e c t o

approval of the Branch Committee of Management

t o i n s p e c t and examlne or czuse t o be Inspected

and examined deeds , a l l r e g i s t e r s , b o o k s , p a p e r s ,

ocumen t s and accoun t s ~n or I n

connectlon w i t h t he conduc t o f t he a f f a l r s of

t h e Branch or of any Sub-Branch of t h e Branch."

H e r e f e r r e d t o r u l e 1 8 which providcs t h n t :

" A l l d l s p u t e s of whatever na tu re between a

member o r members and an employer may be

submltted to such Steward, who s h a l l I n t u r n

communicate w i t h the Branch S e c r e t a r y a s e a r l y

as poss ih l e . "

ne a lso p rov ides a s fo l lows : p laced some r e l i a n c e upon r u l e 3 7 ( b ) (iii) which

" ( i l i ) The Branch Secretary may c a l l a Meeting

of members of the Branch or of a p a r t t h e r e o f

t o c o n s i d e r m a t t e r s a f f e c t i n g t h e members of

t h e Branch or t h a t p a r t h e r e o f to o b t a l n t h e

views of the members on the ma t t e r o r m a t t e r s

considered. . . ."

. ... - .

_ .

16.

However, a s Mr G r a y p o l n t e d o u t , t h e r e i s no provision I n t h e

r u l e s g i v l n g a n y b i n d i n g f o r c e t o t h e d e c i s j o r . o f such a

m e e t l n g . Nr N a t h a n a l s o r e f e r r e d the C o u r t o r u l e s G 1 and

6 2 , b u t as M r G r a y s u b m l t t e d , t h o s e t w o r u l e s do n o t c o l i f e r

a n y l n i t l a t l n g p o w r u p o n t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y . T h e y p l a c e a

d u t y upon hlm t o r e p o r t c e r t a i n m a t t e r s t o t h e f e d e r a l

s e c r e t a r y . O t h e r r u l e s i m p o s e v a r i o u s a d m l n l s t r a t i v c d u t i e s

upon t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y .

N e i t h e r t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y n o r t h e a s s i s t a n t b r d n c h

s e c r e t a r y is a member o f t h e b r a n c h c o m m i t t e e of management

(see r u l e 35) b u t i t was common g r o u n d t h a t e a c h is t h e

h o l d e r o f a n o f f i c e w i t h i n t h e m c a n l n g o f s.4(1) o f t h e Act

and mus be t e l ec t ed (s.133(1) ( a ) ) . I n my v i e w n e i t h e r h a s a

r i g h t t o v o t e a t m e e t i n g s o f t h e b r a n c h committee o f

management. I r e ~ e c t as u n t e n a b l e Mr I J a t h c n ' s a r g u m e n t h a t

s u c h a r l g h t t o v o t e i s c o n f e r r e d b y r u l e 7 1 ( R u l e s of

D e b a t e ) w h l c h p r o v l d e s t h a t :

" ( 3 3 ) E v e r y f i n a n c i a l member who is w l t h ~ n t h e

room a t t h e time ' t h e q u e s t l o n ' 1s p u t s h a l l

v o t e t h e r e o n u n l e s s f o r speclal r e a s o n s h e b e

excused by t h e m e e t i n g . "

Mr Gray made I t c l e a r t h a t h e " d i d n o t seek t o

d i m i n l s h t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e p o w e r s " o f t h e b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r y ' s o f f l c e a n d a g r e e d t h a t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y , a s

17.

t h e c h j e f e x e c u t l v e o f f i c e r of t h e b r a n c h , i s "a man of g r e a t

i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e o r g a n i z a t l o n ' S s t r u c t u r e " . I n t h e s e

c i r c m s t a n c e s I d o n o t f i n d i t n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s l d e r i n

d e t a i l t h e r u l e s r e l a t l n g t o t h e p o w e r s t h e o f b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r y . H o w e v e r , I accept Mr G r a y ' s s u b m i s s l o n t h a t i t I S

n o t c o r r e c t s e c r e t a r y h a d u n p a r a l l e l l e d p o w e r " . t o s a y , a s Mr Nathan did, t h a t t h e " b r a n c h

B o t h c o u n s e l r e f e r r e d me t o many judgmen t s o f t h l s

C o u r t , o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Industrial C o u r t a n d o f t h e

Commonwealth C o u r t of C o n c i l l a t i o n a n d A r b i t r a t i o n b u t , a s Mr

G r a y s a i d , t h e y r e a l l y d o n o t b e a r d i r e c t l y o n t h e q u e s t i o n

a t i s s u e - t h e y b e a r i n d i r e c t l y o n i t . H a v r n g r e g a r d t o t h a t

f a c t a n d t h e e x p r e s s w i s h o f t h e r s s p o n d c n t a s c o c i a t l o n t h a t

j udgmen t be g iven i n t hese m a t t e r s a s soon d s p o s s i b l e , I d o

n o t p r o p o s e t o r e f e r t o t h o s e a u t h o r ~ t i e s i n t hese r e a s o n s

fo r judgment .

I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h e a p p l l c a t l o n , t h e C o u r t m u s t have

r e g a r d t o a l l 0 - t h e o b j e c t s of t h e Act and t o t h e p u r p o s e s

of t h e r e g i s t r a t l o n o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h l c h , Mr G r a y

s u b m i t t e d , i n c l u d e " t h e r p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e industrial

I n t e r e s t s of I t s members ir, t h e b e s t p o s s l b l e w a y " . He

r e f e r r e d t o t h e o b j e c t s c o n t a i n e d i n s . 2 ( c ) and ( e ) , whlch

r e a d a s f o l l o w s :

" ( c ) t o p r o v l d e m e a n s f o r p r e v e n t l n g a n d

s e t t l l n g I n d u s t r i a l d l s p u t e s n o t r e s o l v e d by

18.

a m i c a b l e a g r e e m e n t , ~ n c l u d l n g t h r e a t e n e d ,

l m p c n d i n g a n d p r o 5 a b l e industrial. d i s p u t e s ,

w l t h t h e maxlmum o f e x p e d l t j o n a n 2 t h e m l n l m u m

o f l e g a l f o r m a n d t e c h n l c a l l t y ;

...

(e ) e n c o u r a g e t o t he 0 r g ~ 3 n l z a t i o n o f

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e b o d l e s o f e m p l o y e r s alld

e m p l o y e e s	a n d	t h e i r	r e g ~ s t r a t ~ o n	u n d e r	t h l s
Act:
...

l

Mr G r a y s t r e s s e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e r o l e o f t h e

a s s o c l a e i o n as a registered o r g a n i z a t i o n i n r e p r e s e n t i n g I t s

members - i n c l u d l n g r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e m p r o c e e d l n g s i n

d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s s e t t l i n g i n d u s t r l a l d i s p u t e s . He s t a t e d

t h a t it w a s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s i s t a n t

b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y be s u f f i c i e n t l y " q u a l i f i e d a n d e x p e r l e n c c d "

t o e n a b l e them t o c a r r y o u t h e i r d u t l e s o n b e h a l f o f t h e

members. T h i s a r g u m e n t l e a d s t o a c o n s l d e r a t i o n of tlle

q u e s t l o n w h e t h e r it is n e c e s s a r y o r d e s i r a b l e , ~n o r d e r t o

l

e n s u r e t h a t t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h

s e c r e t a r y a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y " q u a l l f i e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d " , f o r

r u l e 73 ( b ) ( X ) t o r e s t r i c t t h e c l a s s o f members who ma:'

n o m i n a t e p e r s o n s f o r e l e c t i o n t o e i t h e r o f t h e two o f f i c e s .

M r G r a y c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h e r e a s o n t h a t t h e a s s o c i a t i o n

h a d o p e n e d membership of t h e t h e f l e l d OF- c a n d l d a t e s t o p e r s o n s o u t s i d c the

a s s o c i a t i o n was t o e n a b l e i t t o e l e c t t o

.' t h o s e p o s i t l o n s p e r s o n s h a v i n g " q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , e x p e r i e n c e ,

t a l e n t s t o t h e maxlmum p o s s i b l e t h a t i s a v a i l a b l c " . I s h a l l

. ..

19.

r e f e r t o s u c h p e r s o n s a s " q u a l l f l e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d " . Re

s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e a s s o c l a t l o n m l g h t a d v e r t i s e " t o t h e p u b l i c

a t l a r g e f o r c a n d l d a t e s " i n t h e p e r l o d p r e c e d i n g a n e l e c t i o n

a n d t h a t c a n d i d a t e s i t " m i g h t c o n c e l v a b l y g e t a l a r g e n u m b e r o f

w i t h i n a o u t s l d e d t h e K e r n h e r s h i p o f t h e

o r g a n l z a t l o n - many o f whom migh t be no th ing more t han

f r e e l o a d e r s l o o k i n g f o r a g o o d c o m f o r t a b l c s a l a r l e d ]ob". Mr

G r a y p u t I t t h a t " I t 1s o n e r o u s t o e x p e c t t h e o r q a n i z a t i o n t o

c o n d u c t a n e l e c t i o n a m o n g s t a l l comers a s t h e p e n a l t y f o r

w a n t i n g t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h a t a l e n t " . H o w e v e r , h e made

i t c l e a r t h a t h e was n o t r e f e r r i n g t o t h c p o s s l b l e a d v a n t a g e

o f s a v l n g t h e c o s t c f a n e l e c t i o n .

Despi te Mr G r a y ' s f o r c e f u l a d v o c a c y t h e r e is n o

m a t e r i a l b e f o r e t h e C o u r t t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e p o s s l b l l l t y o f

I

h a v i n g s o m e e x p e r i e n c e d " c a n d i d a t e s who a r e n o t " q u a l i f i e d a n d

I I

i s a rea l problem. Nor i c t h e r e a n y m a t e r i a l t o

:

show t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f s u c h p e r s o n s - o r o f " f r e e l o a d e r s "

- a s u n f o r t u n a t e c a n d l d a t e s a t a n e l e c t i o n i s l i k e l y t o l e a d t o

o r u n d e s l r a b l e r e s u l t s f o r t h e a s s o c l a t l o n , t h e

b r a n c h o r t h e members. I n r e f e r r i n g t o t h e a b s e n c e o f

m a t e r i a l o n t h i s a s p e c t , I am n o t o f c o u r s e s u g g e s t l n g t h a t

i t is a l w a y s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e r e l e v a n t b a c k g r o u n d , a g a i n s t

w h l c h t h e q u e s t i o n b e f o r e t h e C o u r t 1s d e t e r m i n e d , t o be t h e

s u b j e c t o f v i d e n c e . S o m e t i m e s t h a t b a c k g r o u n d will be

i a p p a r e n t f r o m t h e n a t u r e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o r f o m a n

e x a m l n a t i o n o f t h e r u l e s a s a w h o l e . I n o t h e r c a s e s i t may

20.

be common g r o u n d b e t w e e n t he p a r t l e s . Sometime.; a

p r o p o s l t l o n a d v a p c e d by c o u n s e l may b e s e l f - e v i d e n t a n d n o t

r f q u l r e s u p p o r t l n g evidence.

H o w e v e r , a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g a l l o f t h e a r g u m e n t s

advanced , t h e r u l e s as a w h o l e a n d t h e e v l d e n t l a r y m a t e r i a l

b e f o r e t h e C o u r t - p a r t i c u l a r l y a s t o t h e c o n s l d e r a t l o n given

t o t h i s m a t t e r by t h e a s s o c i a t i o n - i n my v i e w t h e r c 1 s

n o t h i n g t o show t h a t t h e a s s o c i a t i o n w o u l d b e d i s a d v a ~ ~ t a g e d

i n a n y way i f t h e r u l e s d i d n o t r e s t r l c t t h e r l g h t t o

n o m l n a t e c a n d i d a t e s f o r t h e two o f f l c e s i n q u e s t i o n b y

r e q u i r i n g t h a t s u c h n o m i n a t i o n s b e by two members of t h e

branch commit tee management . o f There is n o r e a s o n t o

b e l i e v e t h a t a r u l e p e r m i t t i n g s u c h n o m i n a t i o n s t o be slgned

by any n o m i n a t l o n two members o f the b ranch would p revent o r d e t e r t h e

o f p e r s o n s w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y q u a l i f i c a t i o n s 011d

e x p e r i e n c e . I t would seem t h a t , ~f t h e r u l e so p ~ o v i e e d , t h e

o n l y d l s a d v a n t a g e t h a t m i g h t o c c u r i s t h a t t h e members of the

b r a n c h , I n t h e i r c a p a c l t y a s t h e e l e c t o r s , m i g h t h a v e t o

d e c i d e b e t w e e n wha t M r G r a y c a l l s " q u a l i f l e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d "

p e r s o n s o n t h e o n e h a n d a n d " f r e e l o a d e r s " o n t h e o t h e r .

M r G r a y a r g u e d t h a t t h e r u l e s o f a r e g i s t e r e d

o r g a n l z a t l o n w h l c h r e s t r i c t i n some way t h e c l a s s o f p e r s o n s

g i v e n t h e power t o n o m i n a t e o t h e r p e r s o n s f o r e l e c t l o n t o

v a r l o u s o f f l c e s do n o t n e c e s s a r l l y c o n t r a v e n e s.140. I t

would be n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s i d e r e a c h c a s e i n i t s own c o n t e x t

.. . .

21.

I n o r d e r t o d e , t e r m l n e suc !h a q u e s t l o n b u t it may be t h a t a

r u l e r s t r l c t i n ? t h e c l a s s "nomina ' : o r s " o f t o f i . > a n c l a l

members of a b r a n c h w o u l d n o t c o n t r a v e n e s.140(1) ( c ) . Agdln ,

i t may b e t h a t i n a p a r t i c u l a r o r g a n i z a t l o n a r u l e

r e s t r i c t l n g t h e c l a s s of " n o m i n a t o r s " t o t h o s e member5 who

h a v e b e e n f l n a n c i a l m e m b e r s f o r a s p e c i f l e d p e r l o d w o u l d n o t

c o n t r a v e n e t h e s e c t l o n . W h e r e an a p p l i c a t l o n t o t h e C o u r t

r a l se s a q u e s t i o n as t o w h e t h e r a p a r t i c u l a r " r e s t r i c t i o n " 1s

c o n t r a r y t o s.140(1) o f t h e Act I t wlll o f t e n b e n e c e s s d r y t o

c o n s i d e r t h a t q u e s t l o n a g a l n s t t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f t h a t

p a r t i c u l a r o r g a n l z a t i o n - a l t h o u g h t h e r e have been many c a s e s

where a r u l e ( n o t r e l a t i n g t o n o m i n a t l o n s ) h a s b e e n h e l d t o

c o n t r a v e n e s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) w i t h o u t r e q u l r l n g f a c t u a l m a t e r l a l as t o

a l l t h e s u r r o u n d l n g c l r c u m s t a n c c s .

M K G r a y f o r m u l a t e d t h e q u e s t l o n w h ~ c h the C o u r t h a s t o

determine a s b ~ J i n g : "Does t h e r e s t r i c t i o n .. ., h a v i n g r e g a r d

t o a l l K e S t K i C t l O n o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , c o n t r a v e n e t h e A c t by b e i n g a

o f t o o g r e a t a d e g r e e " . I n my o p i n i o n r u l e

7 3 ( b ) (X) d o e s so c o n t r a v e n e t h e Act. G r e a t w e i g h t must be

g i v e n t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e v a s t m a j o r l t y of t h e members of

t h e b r a n c h t h e a f f i c e o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a r e u n a b l e t o nominate a p e r s o n f o r e l e c t l o n t o

O K a s s l s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y .

MK G r a y p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l b e f o r e t h e C o u r t

i n t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n case d o e s n o t show t h e s i z e o f t h e m r m b e r s h l p of t h e

o r of t h e b ranch . I n t h a t c o n t e x t h e p o s e d t h e

22.

e s t l on: "Wh c o p o r : t i o n d o e s 18 ( t h e number o f member: o f

t h e commlttee of management of t h e branch) represc-!I t and w h b t

r e l a t i o n s h i p d o e s ~t b e a r t o t h e o v e r a l l m c m b e r s h i p ? " .

H o w e v e r , r u l e 2 2 ( 1 ) e x p r e s s l y m a k e s p r o v i s i o n f o r b r a n c h e s

which may have more than 2 ,000 members and branches w h i c h aay

have more than 3 , 0 0 0 members. H a v l n g r e g a r d t o t h a t r u l e jt

is c l e a r t h a t t h e number of p e r s o n s p e r m i t t e d t o nomlnaCc-

c a n d l d a t e s f o r t h e t w o o f f i c e s r e p r e s e n t s a v e r y s m a l l

p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e membership o f some of t h e branc!les of C h e

a s s o c l a t i o n .

I t may be t h a t a r u l e o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n w o u l d not

con t rave i l e s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) ( c ) i f it r e q u l r e d c a n d i d a t e s f o r tile

o f f l c e s o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d a s s l s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y to

f u l f i l c e r t a i n s p e c l f l e d o b j e c t l v e r e q u i r e m e n t s , e . g . a s t o

t h e minimum a g e , d u c a t l o n a l s t a n d a r d or work e x p e r l c n c e

r e q u l r e d o f t h e c a n d i d a t e s (see MacDonald v. T h e Amalgamated

E n g i n e e r i n g U n l o n ( 4 u s t r a l i a n S e c t i o n ) ( 1 9 6 2 ) 3 F.L.R. 4 4 6 s t

p . 4 4 8 p e r A u s t r a l l a n Workers S p i c e r C . J . a n d E g g l e s t o n J . a n d McKay v .

Union (1968) 12 F .L .R . 182 a t p . 1 8 6 ) . 1

do n o t e x p r e s s a n y o p l n i o n o n t h a t q u e s t i o n a s t h e p r e s e n t

r u l e s d o n o t so p rov ide and t h e m a t t e r h a s n o t b e e n a r g u e d .

R u i e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) , h o w e v e r , d o e s n o t p r e s c r i b e a n y

o b j e c t l v e s t a n d a r d . T h e r e s u l t i s t h a t i t would be q u i t e

p o s s l b l e t h a t e v e r y member of t h e b r a n c h c o m m l t t e e o €

m a n a g e m e n t m i g h t d e c i d e n o t t o n o m i n a t e a p e r s o n who is

.. .

r. .

2 3 .

w i t h i n M C G r a y ' s c a t e g o r y o f " q u a l l f i c d a n d e x p e r l e n c e d "

pe r sons . Such a pe r son mlgh be t one whom t h e members of t h c

brapch would have e lec ted t o t h e o f f l c e o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y

o r a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y i f h e h a d b e e n nominated and

t h e y h a d h a d t h e o p p o r t u n l t y t o v o t e f o r t h a t p e r s o n . A s a

r e s u l t o f t h e r u l e i t is q u l t e p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e members o f

t h e b ranch	w l l l n o t	h a v e	t h e	o p p o r t u n i t y	t o	v o t e	f o r	s u c h	a
pe r son .

Leavlng a s ide t h e p o s s l b l l l t y t h a t t h e power t o d e c i d e

n o t o n o m i n a t e a p e r s o n m l g h t be e x e r c l s e d m a l a f i d e , r u l e

7 3 ( b ) ( X ) I n my o p i n j o n c o n t r a v e n e s s.140(1) (c ) of t h e Act i n

t h a t i t imposes upon members of t h e b r a n c h r e s t r l c t l o n s w h i c h

a r e o p p r e s s l v e a n d u n r e a s o n a b l e . T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e

c o m m i t t e e o f m a n a g e m e n t m l g h f a i l t o r e f u s e t o n o m i n a t e a

p e r s o n who wlshed t o become a candidate f o r the office

c o n c e r n e d , n o t w l t h s t a n d i n g t h a t h e 1 s a "qualified a n d

e x p e r i e n c e d " p e r s o n . T h a t f a i l u r e o r r e f u s a l m i g h t b e f o r

any one of a number o f r e a s o n s o r a n y c o m b i n a t i o n of t h e m

and , of c o u r s e , d l f f e r e n t r e a s o n s m i g h t a f f e c t t h e m l n d s of

d i f f e r e n t members of the branch commit tee of management . I t

h a s b e e n commlttee c o n v e n i e n t o r e f e r t o what members of t h e b ranch

o f managemen t mlgh t do bu t t h l s is n o t i n t e n d e d t o

c o n v e y t h a t e a c h member of t h e c o m m i t t e e c o u l d e n s u r e , by h l s

a c t l o n a l o n e , t h a t a p e r s o n was n o m i n a t c d . T h l s 1s n o t h e

c a s e as r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e n o m l n a t i o n b e s i g n e d

by two members of t h e b r a n c h c o m m l t t e e o f m a n a g e m e n t .

..

' I .	- ?
L

2 4 .

However , my o p l n l o n t h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) c o n t r a v e n e s

s.140(1) ( c ) is r ? 2 t d e p e n d e n t I n a n y way upon thr: f a c t t h a t

t h e n o m l n a t l o n c o m m i t t e e form m u s t b e s l g n e d by two membzrs of t h e

I n s t e a d o f o n e .

Even a s t o a p e r s o n who is u n d o u b t e d l y " q u a l l f i e d a n d

e x p e r i e n c e d " , a member o f t h e commit tee of management might

r e f u s e t o nominate h i m f o r n e o r m o r e o f a number o f

r e a s o n s . W l t h o u t a t t e m p t i n g t o p r e p a r e a n e x h a u s t i v e l i s t ,

s u c h a " r e a s o n " c o u l d b e t h a t t h e member o f t h e c o n m l t t e c of

management:

( a ) c o n s i d e r e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t o c c u p a n t o f

t h e o f f i c e was q u l t e s a t i s f a c t o r y ;

( b ) a l t h o u g h c r l t l c a l of t h e a c t i o n s a n d

a t t l t u d e s o f t h e p r e s e n t o c c u p a n t ,

c o n s l d e r e d h l m t o b e p r e f e r a b l e t o

someone whose l l k e l y p e r f o r m a n c e w a s

n e c e s s a r i l y unknown;

( c ) was a j e o p l r d i z i n g f r i e n d o f t h e p r e s e n t o c c u p a n t o f

t h e o f f i c e nomlnat lng a n d i d n o t w i s h t o r i s k

t h a t	f r i e n d s h i p	b y
someone	to oppose h i m ;

( d ) h a d a l r e a d y n o m l n a t e d a n o t h c r c a n d l d a t e

a n d t h o u g h t n o m l n a t e i t w o u l d be wrong t o

w c a n d l d a t e s o f o r t h e o n e

o f f i c e ;

(e ) c o n s i d e r e d t h a t t h e p o t e n t i a l c a n d i d a t e

w a s n o t

t h e p o t e n t i a l	t y p e t h e o f f i c e ;	p e r s o n	o f	t h e
n o m l n a t o r w o u l d w l s h t o h o l d

( f ) d l d n o t know t h e p o t e n t i a l c a n d i d a t e

s u f f i c i e n t l y well a n d c o n s l d e r e d t h a t

a c t l n g a s a nomlna to r amoun ted t o a

p e r s o n a l e n d o r s e m e n t o f t h e c a n d l d a t c ;

( g ) d i d n o t know t h e p o t e n t l a l c a n d i d a t e a t

25.

a l l .

C e r t a i n a f f l d a v i t s s w o r n by va r ious members of t h e

b ranch committee m a n a g e m e n t , o f f l l e d on b c h a l f o t h e

r p s p o n d e n t , were t e n d e r e d i n e v l d e n c e b y Mr N a t h s n w l t h o u t

o b ~ e c t i o t l by Mr Gray. I e x p r e s s e d some d o u b t a s t o w h e t h e r

t h a t e v l d e n c e w a s r e l e v a n t t o t h e Issue b e f o r e t h e Cour t .

However, I t may be t h a t i t t e n d s t o show t h a t t h e r e i s

n o t h i n g u n r e a l or f a n c i f u l i n t h e p o s s i b l e r e a s o n s s e t o u t

above as b ranch committee of management i n t h e r e a s o n s w h l c h m l g h t r r o t l v a t e t h e m e m b e r s of t h e

r e f u s l n g t o n o m i n a t e a

p e r s o n w l s h i n g t o become a c a n d l d a t e f o r e i t h e r o f t h e two

o f f ices.

I n my o p i n i o n r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) i n r e s p e c t o f t h e o f f i c e

of b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y c o n t r a v e n r s s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) ( c ) . T h e a s s i s t a n t

b ranch s ec re t a :y i s t o " a s s l s t h e B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y I n t h e

pe r fo rmance of h i s d u t l e s " ( r u l e 4 3 ( c ) ) . I n a d d l t i o n , r u l e

4 3 p r o v l d e s t h a t :

" ( a ) I n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y o r

when t h a t o f f l c e i s v a c a n t t h e Assis tant Branch

S e c r e t a r y s h a l l a s s u m e a l l o f t h e powers and

f u n c t l o n s o f B r a n c h S e c r e t a r y . "

Mr G r a y d l d n o t seek t o d r a w a n y d i s t i n c t l o n b e t w e e n

t h e p o s l t i o n o f t h e b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y a n d t h a t o f t h e

a s s i s t a n t b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e p r e s e n t

p r o c e e d l n y s . He made i t c l e a r t h a t , 11 t h e C o u r t h e l d t h a t

BETWEEN:

2.

t h e C m r t should not make a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t R u l t 73(b)(x)

of the Rules of the Association corltravenes S . li+O(l) of the

Conc i l i a t ion and Arb i t r a t ion Act 1 s ) O i ~ ( the Act ) insofar as

i t p u r p o r t s t o r e q u i r e a numination f o r a n e l e c t j o n f o r t h c

o f f i c e of Branch Sccre ta ry and o f AssisLant Branch Secretary

t o be signed or endorsed by Lwo meohers of the Branch

Committec of Management. Both matters were r e t u r n a b l e b e f o r e

t h e C o u r t y e s t e r d a y f o r d i r e c t l o n s i n t h e m a t t e r s a n d f o r t h e

hea r ing oE a p p l i c a t i o n s an behalf of the c l a iman t s fo r i n t e r im

o r d e r s t o b e made under s .140(10) of the Act.

Matters V 1 7 and V 1 8 of 19SC c o n s i s t o f r r f e r e n c e s t o

the Court	by	t h e Industrial	Regis t ra r under	s . 1 5 9 ( 4 )	of	t h e
-

A c t of applications by Kenneth Lawret;cf- Lancaster ard Michael

James Canny pursuant to s.159 of the ALL f o r an e rqu i ry by

the Cour t i n to thc clainls by t l l c a p p l i L a n t s t h a t t h e r e has

b e e n a n i r r e g u l a r i t y i n o r i n c o n l l e c t i o n with t h e e l e c t i o n f o r

t h e o f f i c e of Branch Secretary and Assistant Branch Sec re t a ry

of the Victor ian Branch of the Assoc ia t ion .

On Fr iday l as t , 3 October 1960. i n each of those two

m a t t e r s a f t e r t h e two appl icants had announced the i r in ten t ion

oC applyi;-ig t o t h e C c i i r t €or in te r<m ordsrs under S. 163( l) o f

t h e Act, one Mlchae? Eclward S m a l l ( t he r e tu rn i r :g o l f i ce r ) who

is an oifi .Ler appointed pursuant t o S . 170 of the Act ta conducL

t n e s a i d s!ect.ion. Fabc m under t ak jn r Lo the Court thal- he

would no t make a d~c1a ra t io ; l of eiLher of t h e t ~ o p o l l s t h e

s u b j e c t of t h e p r o c a e d j ~ ~ g s 1lr:dcr S . 1:9 of t?lc 4~1: before the

3 .

hearing and determinat ion of the app l i ca t ions fo r i n t e r in1

o rde r s . Those undertakings were reaff i rmed yesterday.

M r Howard Nathan of couilsel appeared for rhe two

c la imants in the s.140 proccedings who were a l so the app l i can t s

i n the proceedings under s.159. For present purposes it is

c o n v e n i e n t t o r e f e r t o them simply as the c l a iman t s . Mr Pe te r

Grey of counsel appeared i n t h e s.140 matters fo r t he Assoc ia t ion

and in the s .159 ma t t e r s fo r t he Assoc ia t ion , fo r Mr Stephensol:

who h e l d t h e p o s i t i o n o f Austral ian Branch Secretary in the

Vic to r i an Branch un t i l 29 September 1980, f o r Mr Gibbs, a

candida te whose nomination has been acccptcd as b e i n g v a l i d

by t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r in the e l e c t i o n f o r A s s i s t a n t B r a n c h

-

Secreta-)? end for M r Gery k'esvzr!, v53 ! v s beer! S e ~ r e t a r y of

the Vic tor ian Branch for some time and who i s a ca1;didate f o r

r e - e l e c t i o n t o t h a t p o s i t i o n . M r Truscot t appeared in th6

s.159 matters f o r t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r .

A l l fou r matters were l i s t e d b e f o r e the Court ycstcrdny

when a l l p a r t i e s c o n s e n t e d t o them be ing heard toge ther for

the purpose of g iv ing d i rec t ions i n the ma t t e r s and fo r the

purpose of h e a r i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r in te r im orders under

s .140(10) and s .163(1) respect ively.

There i s a f f idavi t ev idence before the Cour t that t h e

two claimants have lodged documents which Fir Nathnn ccntcnds

are val id nominat ions f o r t h z p o s i t i o n s o f Branch Stcretary

and 4s s i s t an t Branch Sec re t a ry r e spec t ive ly . Those mmination;

I

0 4 .

have both been rejected by t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r as being

i n v a l i d i n t h a t t h e y were not yigned by two members of t h e

Branch Conlnlittee of ElaEagement. Branch Rule 73 inc ludes

L	the fo l lowing provis ions :
!

I	1
73. Nvminations

(a) Forin

A l l nominat ions shal l be i n w r i t i n g i n t h e form

s e t o u t i n the schedule to these Rule5 and signed

by t h e nominee on accepting nomixation.

( b ) E l i g i b i l i t y f o r Nomination

i

( i ) Only those members of the Assoc ia t ion

who a r e f i n a n c i a l members in accordanLe with

Rule 13 as a t t h e last day of the month

immediately preceding the month i n which

nomina t ions fo r an e l ec t ion c lose sha l l be

en t i t l ed to nomina te or be nominated f o r any

o f f i c e a p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r which is membership

a t t h a t	election.
...

(X, A s t o e l e c t i o n s f o r t h e o f f i c c s o f :

Branch Secrctary

Assis tant Branch Secretary

: any two members of the Branch Committee of

I t

Management may nominate any person.

In ma t t e r s V 1 7 and V18 of 1 9 S O (the proceedings under

s.159) M r Nathan on behalf of the applicants contends that, a s

a ma t t e r of cons t ruc t ion , Rule 73 does not requi re tha t

nomina t ions fo r t he pos i t i ons of Branch Secretary and Ass i s t an t

?

1 1

Branch Secretary be signed by two members oF t h e Branch

Cormnittee of Manegement". T h a t conten t ion i s c c n t r a r y t o

the view taken by t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r of t h e two norninat lons

xnd is cont ra ry t o t h e construe t i o n of t h c ; - u l r s A i c h X r Grey

5.

h a s s t a t e d w i l l be advanced to the Court on behalf of t h e

Assoc ia t ion . A l t e rna t ive ly , Mr Nathan contends that , i f

Rule 73 construct ion) does require such nominat ions ( con t r a ry to h i s submiss ion as t o i t s proper

t o be signed by

two members of the Eranch Committee of Management-, t h e n , i n s o f a r

as i t so provj-des, it conLravenes S. 14@(1) of the Act . The

l a t t e r argument i s a l s o t h e b a s i s of h i s c l i e n t s ' c l a i m s i n

ma t t e r s V15 and V16 of 1?8@ - the proceedings undcr s . 1 4 0 .

Both Mr Nathan and M r Grey stlbmjtted that the

proceedings under s .140 should be heard f i rs t . Discussions

had taken place between counsel for the parties as to thc date

o f hearing and as t o t h e d i r e c t i o n s t o be sought from the C o u r t .

In r e s p e c t of bcth thc proceedi l lss undcr s .140 acd thc

proceedings under S . 159 I g ive the fo l lowing d i rec t ions , which

were put forward by M r Nathan and Rot opposed by Mr Grey o r

M r T rusco t t :

1. The proceedings under both sections t o b e l i s t e d f o r

hear ing on Monday, 24 November 1080 i n Melbourne a t

10.15 o'clock i n the forenoon and the s.140 mat ters

t o be heard f l r s t	-	s u b j e c t	t o any	crdc-r by	the	Court
hea r ing the mnt t c r s .

2. Any f u r t h e r a f f i d a v i t s on behal€ of the claimants t o

be served and f i l e d on o r be fo re 1 7 Octobcr 1960.

3 . Pokl t s 3f claim t o bc scrvcd 2nd f i l e d by t h c cl?inlants

on a r before 2 4 Octobcr 1 9 F O .

I

6.

4 . Poin t s of dcfence to be ser\ .ed and fi led on or befo re

7 November 1980.

5. Any a f f i d a v i t s on behalf of any of thc respondents

t o e i the r p roceed ing to be se rved and f i l cd on o r

be fo re 7 Npvenber 19W.

6. Any a f f i d a v i t s by t he c l a iva r l t s i n r ep ly t o be s e rved

and f i l e d on o r b e f o r e 14 November 1950.

7. L i b e r t y t o a p p l y i s reserved t o a l l p a r t i e s .

In ma t t e r s V 1 5 and V1G of 1980 M r Nzthal? sought interirn

crders under s .140(10) OF the Act and in ma t t e r s V17 and V1S

of 1980 he sought inter im orders under s.163(1) of the Act .

Mr	Trusco t t	on	behal f	of	t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r d i d n o t s u b m i t
-

any argumr-nt. as t o t h e a p p l i c a r i o n for arl i n t e r im order bjnding

upon t h e r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r . Mr Grey, i n oppvsing t.he

app l i ca t ions unde r bo th sec t ions , submi t t ed tha t t he r e l evan t

p r i n c i p l e s a r e t h o s e a p p l i c a b l e t o a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r

i n t e r locu to ry in junc t ions and r e fe r r ed thc3 CourL t o the

dec is ion of Evat t J. i n Cook v. Crawford and -- OTS (judgment

delivered 14 September 1979) in respect. of an a p p l i c a t i o n

fo r i n t e r im o rde r s unde r S. 141(2) of the Act. Mr N'?than did

not advance any subviss ion to the cont ra ry .

Accordingly, I Lonsj.der t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e b a s i s

of what t h e High Court sa id in - Beecham Group Ltd. v. Bristol

Labcratc: i~s Try. Ltd. (1305) 115 C . L . R . 6 1 5 at pp.h??-623:

1 .

whether the p l a i n t i f f h a s made out a prima f a c i e case.

in the t h e r e i s a sense thaL p r o b n b i l i t y t h a t i f the ev idence r rmains a s i t i s

a t thc: tr4.a.l of ti:c

a c t i o n t h e p l a i n t i f f w i l l b e h e l d e n t i t l e d t o

r e l i e f	..	.
...

The second inquiry i s d i r e c t e d t o this aspecL of the

ma t t e r . It i s whether the inconvexia1ce or injury

w h i c h t h e p l a i n t i f f would be l i k e l y t o s u f f e r i f a n

injunct ion were refused outweighs o r i s outweighsci

by the i n j u n c t i o n in jury which the defendant would s u f f e r if an

were granted."

Under s.163il) M r Nathan sought orders that , pending

the de termine t ion by the Court of the enquiry:

1. the r e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r refrain from declar ing Lhe

r e s u l t o f t he e l ec t ion o r from taking any fur l -her

s t e p s i n the conduc t o f t he e l ec t ion fo r I3ranLh

S e c r e t a r y o r Ass is tan t Sranch Secrc tz ry ir. tfi?

Victorian Branch of the Association:

2. M r G . A. Weaven c o n t i n u e t o act i n t h e o f f i c e o f

Branch Secre ta ry of the Vic tor ian Branch and car ry out

a l l of t h e d u t i e s o f that o f f i c e .

As these are a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r interim orde r s j.t i s

d e s i r a b l e t h a t I should not form any concluded views as t o t h e

evidence or as t o t h e i s s u e s i n d i spu te i n the proceedings.

However, on the evidence before the Court a t t h i s s t a g e . I

c o n s i d e r t h a t , i f t h e e v i d e n c e remains 3 s i t i s , t h e r e i s a

p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t t h e a p p l i c a n t s will he held cnti ' :led 1-0

succeed on one o r o t h e r o f t h e two a l t e r n a t i v e c o n t e n i l o n s

4 8 .

The matters have not twen f u l l y a r y d and I Invc nrr:

formed any concluded views. However, as t o ths cr>IlctJ-ll~-LioiI .,E

t h e r u l e the app l i can t s r e ly upon t h c prravlsion i n FJIC 73(a)

and the wording o f the nominat ion f o r n S C ~ O U L as a s ~ : ; c d u ~ c

t o the r u l e s and re fer red t o i n Rulc 7 3 ( a ) . Fu r thc r . 1 he

wording of Rule 73(b)(x) which contains thc sp , c i f i c r c - f o r e n c c

t o "two members o f the Branch Committee of Mane,cmeut" U S C S c h r

word "may" i n providing that- they "may norniuatc any per s r -~" f o r

the offices of Branch Secrcl-ary and Assistant Brscch SecreLary.

The use of t h e word "may" may b e c o ~ p a r e ' i w;Lk the t;ord; c ~ q d

i n Ru le 73 (b ) ( l i ) which commences %o membsr :hi1 be CI

I,

c a n d i d a t e f o r the o f f i c e of ... a d again in L u l c 73<1;>(.LLi;:

9 .

I have noted tha t in Mi l le r v. Thc B u i l c ! i ~ ~ r ;<.-~~-L.crs

I n d u s t r i a l Uzion of Aus t rz l ia and crs ( l 9 L ? > 59 C,.L.R. $36

I

Kelly .J., i n d e a l i n g w i t h a r u l e r e q u i r i n q !AWL a cand5dr1I-c S

11 s t a t emen t II 9

t o the members" must be issued tnrvuLh" !-.hr.

S t a t e Management Committee, said ( a t p . 8 4 5 ) :

II I t i s c l e a r t o me t h a t f o r a candidstr . foi-

membership of t h e S t a t e ManagemrnL Cwml . I~Lee i.0

be requi red to submi t h i s s ta tements in E:J [ JPGI~

of h i s cand jda tu re t o people who may- ijc c o > l ~ e s L h g

t h e e l e c t i o n f o r t h e i r a p p r o v a l jmposcs an

unreasonable condi t ion upon h i s n e m b ~ r s h ~ p of the

Union. For h i s rncmbership o i t h e Unlon sllou1.d

carry t h e r i s h t t o c o : l t e s t o f f i c c s wsjth:n it

i r r e s p e c t i v e of the approval or disappro\-<+l ef

h i s r easons fo r o f f e r ing h imse l f as a c : ~ t l d i d z t ~

by o t h e r s who may aFpi re t o the sxr? o f c j i e a\

t h a t f o r h i c h he proposes t o s t and . --- I di.t:alJo;?

11

t h i s r u l e .

I t u r n now t o cons ider Lhe sec.ond d 5 p c L I - : C L L C ~ i.8-r ;;L

the passage which I have quoted from R e e c b . ~ . ~ ' : case ( ~ u J J L : ~ ) ,

l 1

It i s sometimes r e i e r r e d t o as the ba lance of co[wenisncc"

aspec t a l though the ques t ion i s no t s iwply one of cur lver !knce ..

as the passage quoted shows.

There i s very l i t t l c ! ma te r i a l be fo re rhc- C u w - t a s 1-0 t h c

inconvenience o r i n j u r y e i t h e r a p p l i c a n t w u l c i he l ike'-y i~

s u f f e r i f a n i n t e r i m o r d e r Kere re fused . Hor:etc>r. ,125 J I - . . - I l L'

said, on t h e m a t e r i a l a t p rc sen t be fc re Lhe Cr-lrl Lhzrc L'. ?

p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t t h e two a p p l i c a n t s w i l l s11c~eeci i n c112j.x

content ion that their nominat ions should l;& c?cce:,l:e(i ..:ntl,

n r e su l t , t ha t each shou ld bc allowcd t o c o ~ : L o q t the c i e - ~ 7 1

10.

normal course. It is t r u e that, if

succeed in the proceedings, an order

the election .. , v'oid" (s.l55(3jia)j

II

persons purporting to have been elected not to 11:v.e k e n

elected'' (s.l65(3)(b)).

However, the fact of having to ask fol on orcier i n

such terms (i.e. asking thzt a pcrson dccixed c l fc t -e t i L;- tF.2

L % & d L u d b L L

returning offic-er appointed under s.170 o € the Acl-) in my 1

opinion represents at least an inconvenience t o chc ~~1111c:ciII.c

nbtwithstanding its rather ini.an;iblc nature.

. ,-

Mr Grey sought to reiy zyon pos5lL i t i. I..C~.~,,~ I; I L ~ ~ T 2

the Association were forced to operate Wil.hO7lL m tissist:lnt

Branch Secretary until there has been a dec la ra t lon of t h

poll as to the Assistant BranLh Secretary s f t c r the dct?r;n;r;.lLim1

of these matters	by the Court. Howevcr. Rui5 31.;11) pros-.-rl.::-
that :

"The Branch Cornmj ttee of FfanagemenL ,;?ay . . . zppojn!-

a person to act as the . . . Assistant Brnntll

Secretary during 3 period whe11 su:.h o : f k c :.S

vacant . . . The pei-son shail asslA.lo 51: t'oc chlti:?

and responsihllitics . . . until nn e1r;ctic.n : ?

11

held for .he office.

On thc material before tlle Court I am sn.1ble t~

11.

t h e f i r s t i n t e r i m o r d e r Suught by Plr Nathan uldcr 2.?63! L ) ! ' - \er<.

made - t o remain i n f o r c e u n t i l t h e C o u r t !:<:.Y :lct?l-13ined the

ques t ions of t h e meanjng and t h e v a l i d i t y of FuLc ? 3 ( i > ) ( x - ) .

Accordingly, I cons ider tha t the inconveni rncc v h ~ c h ttx

a p p l i c a n t s would Lie l i k e l y t o suffer outweiEh> nnv ip,:ury

or inccnvenience which Mr Grey ' s c l i en t s are likclj; LC) SI:I 'er

and I g r a n t t h e f i r s t o r d e r s o u g h t by Mr N a t h m i n t h e S . 15';

proceedlngs.

Mr g r a n t t h e f i r s t o r d e r s o u g h t Grey submit tcd that . i f the Court decided L,>

by Mr Nathan, i t should a l s o laake

11

an order under s . l63( l ) (d) tha t Mr Gibbs may a c t " as 4ssiscri.:t

Branch Secretary pending the determinat icn of t h t mat ! :ry.

M r Grey placed some r e l i a n c e upon t h e f a c t th: h r C ; ! l.,.-, ;L.!

been nominated by members of the Branch Com:?jLter of

Management t o t h e o f f i c e of Assistant Branch S e c r s t z r u .

However, I do n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t t h a t f a c t i.s a sI,JIL-jcj?Tt

ground f o r t h e making o f an order under s.l.6 : ( l ) ( ~ l ) , aur d.. I

consider that any other ground ha5 been made: ouL LLL

making of such an o rde r .

As t o t h e second order sousht, L a m no!: s a t i s f i e d Eh:):

e i t h e r a p p l i c a n t would bc l i k e l y t o sufJ 'er any incs-.n\ m1jLyl :c cl

i n j u r y if the order sought were refused and a c c o r d i n r ~ v

I am not prepared t o make such an o rde r . 1,: thi:; c r m e c . t iu:l

I,

i t j s t o be noted tha t , under Rulc 7 5 a n y cai-djda:: e!.cc:ec!

II

t o any o f f i c e " r e t a i n s t h e o f f i c c u n t j 1 h i s L Lli.,:<'(:. ':,?S

been duly elected" and 1L was no t sq:I:r;EeLfd Ll!c+t L i x i r s l~ $ L < !

12.

not apply t o Mr Weaven’s o f f i c e as Branch Stc ie tnry .

I accept M r Grey’ S argument t h 3 L j.a L~\{.,?C c j r c u r n ~ t : , r 1 ~ ~ 5

no such order i.s necessary. Perhaps I shou?cl add tl:at ~ 1 1 ~

order sought appeared to be wider i n i t s Lerills Lh.?n the p ; . * ~ ; -

,I

confer red by t h e s e c t i o n which is a power L 1 a r d r r l.I~at r

person .. . may act o r con t inue to act i n tilzt 2ff1ce”. It

n o t a power t o r e q u i r e a person t o so zc t .

I n matters V15 of 1980 and V16 of l<;.-@ Mr Xathnn Y O I ~ C . ~ ~ :

t h rec i c t e r im o rde r s unde r s . 1 4 0 ( 1 @ ) . Firc- t , nn g d c r i n

t h e same t e r n s as the order whlch I have declded Lo I:A~..E in

ma t t e r s V17 of 1960 and V16 of 1980. Second. an o r d e r thei .

pending	the determinat lan	of	t hese matters by	Lhc Court , t k
-

Associar ion take no z teps i n or i n cor.ncct +.OJ 1;ith the

e l e c t i o n of the Branch Secretary and the e1;ictim a>f t t c

Ass is tan t Branch Secre ta ry in the Vic tor j .a t : Branch.

A s t o the f i rs t and second orders souEht, !uvinF; re;:::-<’.

t o t h e o r d e r s in V 1 7 of 1990 and V18 o f 1 9 S O k-hicll I

have already decided to make, I do not con3ide; ir; n:ce-,s:lr- ;

t o d e c i d e t h e s e a p p l i c a t i o n s a t t h i s t i m e , l-jul- I > - t L C r b e

l i b e r t y t o a p p l y .

Thi rd , an order tha t , pending thc dete.n;:ind._tiol;; c;

t hese matters by the Court the Associat ion I c.iral r L ..rr:d

d e s i s t f rom purport ing to conduct any eic-cLi::n rmL-Su2ni 1 0

Rule 73(b)(s) for the pos i t i .ons of B r a . 1 ~ 1 ~ Sxrc:-zry of

Assistant Branch SecrcLsry in any Brznch ni. t 1 - 1 ~ ?.i:cso: iocio-1.

.

t .

26.

r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) c o n t r a v e n e d s . 1 4 0 ( 1 ) (c ) of t h e Act ~n rez i3cc t

o f one o f t h e two o f f i c e s , i t would not be nr-celssdry kc

c o n s i d e r a n y s e p a r a t e a r g u m e n t b y h l m I n r e s p e c t o f t h e o t h e r

o f f ice. I n my o p l n l o n r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( X ) , I n r e s p e c t o f t h e

o f f l c e a s s l s t a n t o f b r a n c h s e c r e t a r y , c o n t r d v e n c s

s.140(1) ( c ) .

B o t h c o u n s e l a g r e e d t h a t , ~f t h e Court came tc the

c o n c l u s i o n t h a t r u l e 7 3 ( b ) ( x ) i n I t s p r e s e n t form c o n t r a v e n e s

s u b - s e c t i o n 1 4 0 ( 1 ) o f t h e Act , t h e p r o c e e d l n g s s h o u l d b e

a d j o u r n e d u n t i l a f t e r t h e n e x t m e e t i n g o f t h e f e d e r a l c o u n c i l

of t h e a s s o c l a t l o n which 1s t o t a k e p l a c c i n t h e m l d d i r oi

A p r l l 1 9 8 1 . t h o s e I n c i r c u m s t a n c e s I a d j o u r n t h e s e

p r o c e e d l n g s u n t i l T u e s d a y , 5 May 1 9 8 1 f o r t h e p u r p o s e of

g i v i n g t h e a s s o c l a t l o n a n o p p o r t u n l t y t o a l t e r I t s rulr:s. I

r e s e r v e l l b e r t y t o a n y p a r t y t o a p p l y up011 s e v e n d a y s n o t i c e

t o a n y o p p o s l t e p a r t y .