Tasneem Zakiya Ali v Sheryne Sayed Skin Hair Body Beauty Pty Ltd

Case [2023] FWC 1187


[2023] FWC 1187

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009

s.394—Unfair dismissal

Tasneem Zakiya Ali
v

Sheryne Sayed Skin Hair Body Beauty Pty Ltd

(U2023/418)

VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI

SYDNEY, 19 MAY 2023

Application for an unfair dismissal remedy.

  1. Tasneem Zakiya Ali (the applicant) was employed by Sheryne Sayed Skin Hair Body Beauty Pty Ltd (the respondent) from the 20th of July 2020 through to the 15th of January 2023.

  1. On the 16th of January 2023, the applicant made an application for a remedy for unfair dismissal under s.394 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act).

  1. The respondent objected to the application on the basis that the applicant did not meet the minimum employment period required to lodge an application under section 394 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

  2. There was also a dispute between the legal business names mentioned in the F2 – Unfair Dismissal Application and the F3 – Employer’s Response Forms.

  3. On the 15th of February 2023, correspondence was sent to the applicant in relation to the jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent and she was required to respond by the 22nd of February 2023. No response was received from the applicant at this time.

  4. On the 23rd of February 2023, further correspondence was sent to the applicant directing her to provide a response by 5:00pm on the 28th of February 2023. She was advised that in the absence of a reply, her application may be dismissed.

  5. The applicant had requested further time to respond on medical grounds and was given 1 week to provide evidence. Correspondence was sent to the Applicant on the 1st of March 2023 requesting this.

  6. No further information or evidence was provided upon sending correspondence on the 1st of March seeking medical documentation.

  7. To date, the applicant has not responded to the jurisdictional objections raised by the respondent, or any further correspondence sent by my Chambers in writing.

  1. 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.

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

(a) on its own initiative; or

(b) on application.

  1. The words, “Without 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).

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

  1. An order to that effect will issue with this decision.

VICE PRESIDENT

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Details
AGLC
Tasneem Zakiya Ali v Sheryne Sayed Skin Hair Body Beauty Pty Ltd [2023] FWC 1187
Case
[2023] FWC 1187
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Tasneem Zakiya Ali applied for an unfair dismissal remedy against Sheryne Sayed Skin Hair Body Beauty Pty Ltd, arguing she was dismissed without valid reason or prior notice. The respondent contested the application on jurisdictional grounds, asserting that the applicant did not satisfy the minimum employment period required to make an application under section 394 of the Fair Work Act 2009. Furthermore, the respondent raised disputes concerning the legal business names mentioned in the application and response forms.

The court needed to determine if the application met the jurisdictional requirements under the Fair Work Act 2009, specifically if the applicant had met the minimum employment period. The court also had to consider the respondent's objections and whether the application was frivolous or vexatious, or had no reasonable prospects of success. Given the applicant's failure to respond to correspondence and provide evidence within the specified deadlines, the court needed to decide if the application should be dismissed for want of prosecution.

The court found that the application did not meet the jurisdictional requirements as the applicant had not provided a response to the objections raised by the respondent, nor had she responded to further correspondence from the court. The court exercised its discretion under section 587(3)(a) of the Fair Work Act 2009 to dismiss the application for want of prosecution. As a result, the application was dismissed, and an order to that effect was issued.

The court's decision underscores the importance of timely responses to jurisdictional objections and correspondence from the court. The dismissal for want of prosecution highlights the court's authority to dismiss applications that are not pursued diligently.

Orders

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Background

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