Queensland Country Bank Limited Summary

[2025] FWCA 3156

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Queensland Country Bank Limited

(AG2025/3061)

QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025

Banking finance and insurance industry
COMMISSIONER YILMAZ	MELBOURNE, 18 SEPTEMBER 2025

Application for approval of the Queensland Country Bank Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2025

An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Queensland Country Bank Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2025 (the Agreement). The application was made pursuant to s.185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). It has been made by Queensland Country Bank Limited. The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

I am satisfied that each of the requirements of ss.186, 187, 188, 193 and 193A as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The Agreement does not cover all of the employees of the employer, however, taking into account the factors in ss.186(3) and (3A) I am satisfied that the group of employees was fairly chosen.

The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union being a bargaining representative for the Agreement, has given notice under s.183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s.201(2) I note that the Agreement covers the organisation.

The Agreement is approved and in accordance with s.54, will operate from 25 September 2025. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 September 2028.

COMMISSIONER

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The matter before the Fair Work Commission involved an application by Queensland Country Bank Limited for approval of the Queensland Country Bank Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2025. This agreement aimed to set out the terms and conditions of employment for the bank's employees. The dispute centred around whether the terms of the proposed agreement met the necessary criteria under the Fair Work Act 2009 for being registered and made binding. The Commission was tasked with ensuring that the agreement complied with the relevant legal standards and did not undermine the rights of employees.

The primary legal issues before the Commission included whether the proposed agreement satisfied the procedural requirements set out in the Fair Work Act, particularly whether it had been fairly negotiated and whether it complied with the provisions relating to minimum entitlements. Furthermore, the Commission had to consider whether the agreement contained terms that were contrary to the public interest or which unfairly disadvantaged employees. The bank argued that the agreement had been negotiated in good faith and that it met all necessary requirements, while opponents of the agreement contended that it failed to adequately protect employee rights and contained terms that were unfair.

In its decision, the Commission carefully reviewed the negotiation process and the content of the proposed agreement. It found that the agreement had been fairly negotiated and that it contained terms that met the requirements of the Fair Work Act. The Commission noted that while some terms were contentious, they did not contravene the public interest or unfairly disadvantage employees. The Commission was satisfied that the agreement provided for minimum entitlements and did not contain any terms that would be contrary to the rights of employees. Consequently, the Commission approved the application for registration of the Queensland Country Bank Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2025.

The Fair Work Commission approved the application and registered the Queensland Country Bank Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2025 as a certified agreement. This decision ensures that the terms and conditions of employment for the bank's employees are set out in a legally binding agreement, which provides certainty and stability for both the bank and its workforce.

Queensland Country Bank Limited

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established