Ms Patricia Stuart v CIV Force

[2017] FWC 6201

[2017] FWC 6201

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.394 - Application for unfair dismissal remedy

Ms Patricia Stuart
v
CIV Force
(U2017/10939)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT DEAN SYDNEY, 1 DECEMBER 2017

Application for an unfair dismissal remedy.

[1] On 12 October 2017, Ms Patricia Stuart made an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

[2] Ms Stuart’s application states that she commenced employment with CIV Force (the Respondent) on 20 April 2016 and that her dismissal took effect on 3 September 2017.

[3] On 6 November 2017, correspondence was sent to Ms Stuart advising that based on the information provided, it appeared her application had been made outside the 21 day period prescribed by s.394(2) of the Act. The correspondence required Ms Stuart to file in the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) a statement explaining why the Commission should extend the time for the lodgement of her application.

[4] On 14 November 2017, correspondence was sent to Ms Stuart noting that she had previously been directed to file a statement in the Commission but had not done so. Ms Stuart was given until 4pm on 17 November 2017 to respond. Ms Stuart was advised in the absence of any material being received, her application may be dismissed.

[5] On 22 November 2017 and 23 November 2017, final attempts to contact Ms Stuart by telephone were made. The Commission left voicemail messages for Ms Stuart to contact the Commission as a matter of urgency.

[6] To date, Ms Stuart has not provided any response to the Commission’s correspondence.

[7] Section 587(1) 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.

[8] 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).

[9] In the circumstances of this matter, I have decided to dismiss the application for want of prosecution pursuant to s.587(3)(a) of the Act.

[10] An order to that effect will issue with this decision.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

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