Mark Workman v Ramsay Health Care Aust PL

[2023] FWC 203

[2023] FWC 203

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.394—Unfair dismissal

Mark Workman
v

Ramsay Health Care Aust PL

(U2022/12277)

COMMISSIONER BISSETT MELBOURNE, 24 JANUARY 2023

Application for an unfair dismissal remedy

1. On 24 December 2022 Mr Mark Workman made an application to the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) for a remedy for unfair dismissal pursuant to s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act).

1. The application was incomplete in that Mr Workman did not pay the required fee or file a completed waiver form.

1. On 4 January 2023 the Commission emailed correspondence to Mr Workman’s nominated email address advising that his application required payment of the filing fee or a completed waiver form if he wished to proceed with the application. That correspondence also warned that, if payment is not made or a waiver form is not received within 14 days, the application may be dismissed.

1. On 5 January 2023 the Commission attempted to contact Mr Workman on his nominated telephone number to discuss payment of the required fee however, the call was not answered. A voicemail message was left requesting that Mr Workman contact the Commission to discuss the matter further and pay the fee.

1. A final attempt to contact Mr Workman was made by the Commission on 17 January 2023 to obtain payment or a completed waiver form. The call was not answered, and a voicemail message was left advising Mr Workman that payment of the required fee was still outstanding.

1. To date Mr Workman has not paid the required fee or completed a waiver form.

1. Section 395 of the FW Act, which deals with application fees, provides as follows:

395 Application fees

(1) An application to the FWC under this Division must be accompanied by any fee prescribed by the regulations.
(2) The regulations may prescribe:

(a) a fee for making an application to the FWC under this Division; and

(b) a method for indexing the fee; and

(c) the circumstances in which all or part of the fee may be waived or refunded.

1. Section 587(1) of the FW 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 prospect of success.

1. I am satisfied that, as the application was not accompanied by the fee prescribed by the FW Act, the application was not made in accordance with the FW Act. As such, the application is dismissed pursuant to s.587(1)(a) of the FW Act.

COMMISSIONER

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