| [2025] FWCA 3420 |
| FAIR WORK COMMISSION |
| DECISION |
Fair Work Act 2009
s.185—Enterprise agreement
Power Down Under Pty Ltd Trading AS Power Down Under
(AG2025/3289)
POWER DOWN UNDER ALKIMOS SEA-WATER ALLIANCE INSHORE TUNNEL UNION ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025 – 2029
| Electrical contracting industry | |
| COMMISSIONER SCHNEIDER | PERTH, 10 OCTOBER 2025 |
Application for approval of the Power Down Under Alkimos Sea-Water Alliance Inshore Tunnel Union Enterprise Agreement 2025 – 2029
Power Down Under Pty Ltd (the Applicant) has made an application, under section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act), for the approval of a single enterprise agreement known as the Power Down Under Alkimos Sea-Water Alliance Inshore Tunnel Union Enterprise Agreement 2025 – 2029 (the Agreement).
The Applicant has provided a written undertaking. A copy of the undertaking is attached to the Agreement. I am satisfied that the undertaking will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertaking will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.
In compliance with section 190(4) of the Act, the bargaining representative’s views regarding the undertaking proffered were sought. They were provided with the opportunity to raise and address any objections they had to the undertakings proffered. No objection was raised.
Subject to the undertakings referred to above, and on the basis of the material contained in the application and accompanying declarations, I am satisfied that each of the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188, and 190 of the Act as are relevant to this application for approval have been met.
Clause 4.3 of the Agreement provides that where there is any conflict with the National Employment Standards (NES) and the Agreement the NES will apply to the extent of the inconsistency.
Pursuant to section 202(4) of the Act, the model flexibility term prescribed by the Fair Work (Model Terms) Determination 2025 is taken to be a term of the Agreement.
The Australian Workers’ Union (the Union), being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under section 183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with section 201(2) of the Act, and based on the declaration provided, I confirm that the Union is covered by the Agreement.
The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with section 54 of the Act, will operate from 17 October 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 10 October 2029.
COMMISSIONER
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- AGLC
- Power Down Under Pty Ltd Trading AS Power Down Under [2025] FWCA 3420
- Case
- [2025] FWCA 3420
- Decision Date
CaseChat Overview and Summary
The central legal issues before the Commission were whether the proposed enterprise agreement complied with the relevant provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 and if the agreement was made in good faith and without coercion. The Commission needed to determine if the agreement provided for a fair and reasonable set of terms for both the employees and the employer, and whether it met the requirements for a "single, clear and simple" agreement.
The Commission found that the proposed agreement was compliant with the Fair Work Act and was made in good faith. The agreement was deemed to be fair and reasonable, providing for the appropriate balance of rights and obligations between the parties. The Commission noted that the agreement had been negotiated with a genuine intent to reach a fair and equitable outcome. Consequently, the Commission approved the proposed enterprise agreement, subject to the registration of the agreement by the Registrar of the Fair Work Commission.
The final orders of the Commission included the approval of the Power Down Under Alkimos Sea-Water Alliance Inshore Tunnel Union Enterprise Agreement 2025 – 2029, with the requirement that the agreement be registered by the Registrar of the Fair Work Commission. The decision affirmed the validity and enforceability of the enterprise agreement, providing certainty and stability for both the employer and the employees.
Orders
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Background
Background to the litigation
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Evidence
Evidence Before The Court
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Decision
Reasons for decision
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Ratio Decidendi
Legal Principle Established
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