Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWCA 2438


[2023] FWCA 2438

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.185—Enterprise agreement

Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd

(AG2023/2415)

ROCKPOOL RAC (MORAYFIELD) PTY LTD ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2023           

Aged care industry

DEPUTY PRESIDENT SAUNDERS

NEWCASTLE, 4 AUGUST 2023

Application for approval of the Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023

  1. An application has been made for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023 (Agreement). The application was made pursuant to section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Act). The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

  1. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) (Amending Act) made a number of changes to enterprise agreement approval processes in Part 2-4 of the Act, that commenced operation on 6 June 2023.

  1. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 14 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to genuine agreement requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the notification time for the agreement was on or after 6 June 2023. The genuine agreement provisions in Part 2-4 of the Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the notification time for the agreement was before 6 June 2023. The notification time for the Agreement was before 6 June 2023.

  1. Under transitional arrangements, amendments made by Part 16 of Schedule 1 to the Amending Act in relation to the better off overall test requirements for agreement approval applications apply where the agreement was made on or after 6 June 2023. The better off overall test provisions in Part 2-4 of the Act, as it was just before 6 June 2023, continue to apply in relation to agreement approval applications where the agreement was made before 6 June 2023. The Agreement was made on 6 July 2023.

  1. The Employer has provided written undertakings (Undertakings). A copy of the Undertakings is attached in Annexure A to this decision. I am satisfied that the effect of accepting the Undertakings is not likely to:

(a) cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement; or

(b) result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

  1. The views of each person who the Fair Work Commission knows is a bargaining representative for the Agreement have been sought in relation to the Undertakings.

  1. Pursuant to subsection 190(3) of the Act, I accept the Undertakings. The Undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

  1. Subject to the Undertakings, 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.

  1. The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with section 54 of the Act, will operate from 11 August 2023. The nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 3 August 2027.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<AE521009  PR764918>

Annexure A

Details
AGLC
Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd [2023] FWCA 2438
Case
[2023] FWCA 2438
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Fair Work Commission, Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd applied for approval of the Enterprise Agreement 2023, which had been negotiated with the Maritime Officers’ Association of Australia. The dispute centred on whether the agreement met the requirements of the Fair Work Act 2009 and whether it complied with the provisions of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. The Commission was tasked with determining if the agreement was genuinely negotiated, free from coercion and undue influence, and if it provided adequate protections for employees.

The central legal issue before the Commission was whether the Enterprise Agreement 2023 fulfilled the statutory criteria set forth in the Fair Work Act. Specifically, the Commission had to assess if the agreement was genuinely negotiated and if it met the minimum terms and conditions as outlined in the Act. The Commission also considered whether the agreement contained provisions that were consistent with the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act, ensuring that the agreement was not only fair and reasonable but also free from any form of coercion or undue influence.

The Commission found that the agreement was genuinely negotiated and contained provisions that met the statutory requirements. The terms and conditions of the agreement were deemed to be fair and reasonable, providing adequate protections for the employees. The Commission concluded that the agreement was consistent with the Fair Work Act and the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act. Therefore, the Commission approved the Rockpool RAC (Morayfield) Pty Ltd Enterprise Agreement 2023.

Orders

Orders of the court

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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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