Tahlia Costello v S.C.O.P.E Inc

[2020] FWC 4463

[2020] FWC 4463

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.394—Unfair dismissal

Tahlia Costello
v
S.C.O.P.E Inc
(U2020/8179)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI SYDNEY, 24 AUGUST 2020

Application for an unfair dismissal remedy.

[1] On 12 June 2020, Tahlia Costello (the applicant) applied to the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) for an unfair dismissal remedy under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) against her former employer, ‘S.C.O.P.E Inc’.

[2] The application was listed before a Commission staff conciliator on 7 July 2020. The applicant did not attend the conciliation.

[3] The application was then allocated to me. My chambers sent correspondence to the applicant on 27 July 2020, directing her to advise us by 4:00 pm on 3 August 2020 whether she still pressed her application. However, we received no response from the applicant by that time.

[4] On 4 August 2020, my chambers sent further correspondence to the applicant, directing her to provide a response by 4:00 pm on 7 August 2020. She was advised that in the absence of a reply, her application may be dismissed.

[5] To date, the applicant has not responded to any of the Commission’s correspondence.

[6] Section 587 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.

Note: For another power of the FWC to dismiss an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal made under Division 5 of Part 3-2, see section 399A.

(2) Despite paragraphs (1)(b) and (c), the 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) The FWC may dismiss an application:

(a) on its own initiative; or

(b) on application.”

[7] The words, “[w]ithout 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).

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

VICE PRESIDENT

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