Lynda Owens v Nutworks

[2024] FWC 21

[2024] FWC 21

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.394—Unfair dismissal

Lynda Owens
v

Nutworks

(U2023/11825)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI SYDNEY, 4 JANUARY 2024

Application for an unfair dismissal remedy

1. Lynda Owens (the Applicant) was employed by Nutworks (the Respondent) from 22 June 2022 until she was dismissed on 17 October 2023.

1. On 30 November 2023, the Applicant made an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

1. The application was lodged 23 days out of time.

1. On 11 December 2023, correspondence was sent to the Applicant in relation to the matter being lodged out of time and she was required to respond by 15 December 2023.

1. Further correspondence was sent to the Applicant on 20 December 2023 and she was required to respond by 5:00pm on 2 January 2024. It was in this correspondence that the Applicant was advised her application would be dismissed without any notice if no response was received.

1. To date, the Applicant has not responded to any of the correspondence sent by my Chambers.

1. 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.

Note:   For another power of the FWC to dismiss an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal made under Division 5 of Part 3 2, see section 399A.

(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.”

1. 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).

1. In the circumstances I have decided to dismiss the application for want of prosecution pursuant to s.587(3)(a) of the Act.

1. An order to that effect will issue with this decision.

VICE PRESIDENT

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