Owens, Joseph v The Australian Building Construction Employees & Builders Labourers Federation

- Five applicants sought declarations that they were entitled to membership of the Australian Building Construction Employees and Builders Labourers Federation. The applicants had applied for membership of the Federation but had been refused. The applicants contended that they were entitled to membership under section 144 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 as amended. The Federation opposed the applications. The applicants contended that they were all employed in the building industry and that they were not of general bad character. The Federation argued that the applicants were not employed in the building industry and that they were of general bad character. The Court held that the applicants were all employed in the building industry and that they were not of general bad character. The Court made declarations that each applicant was entitled to membership of the Federation.