Thomas Russell v Gippsland Group Training Ltd T/A Apprenticeship Group Australia

[2016] FWCFB 2043

[2016] FWC 832 [Note: An appeal pursuant to s.604 (C2016/2766) was lodged against this decision - refer to Full Bench decision dated 1 April 2016 [[2016] FWCFB 2043] for result of appeal.]

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.365—General protections

Thomas Russell
v
Gippsland Group Training Ltd T/A Apprenticeship Group Australia
(C2015/7031)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT LAWRENCE SYDNEY, 8 FEBRUARY 2016

Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal.

[1] On 20 October 2015 Mr Thomas Russell (the Applicant) lodged a General Protections application involving a dismissal pursuant to s.365 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The application alleged that the Applicant had been dismissed by Gippsland Group Training Ltd T/A Apprenticeship Group Australia (the Respondent).

[2] The Applicant commenced employment with the Respondent in August 2013. He was a casual plumbing instructor in the Respondent’s training operation in Gippsland, Victoria. He says that he was dismissed on 11 August 2015 and the dismissal took effect on that day.

[3] The application therefore was lodged 49 days out of time.

Alleged Contravention

[4] The Applicant submits that he was dismissed because he refused to sign off some students and agree to sign documentation. He further says that he was victimised because he lodged a bullying complaint. A breach of s.340 is alleged.

Respondent’s Submissions

[5] The Respondent denies these allegations and further denies that there has been a breach of the General Protections provisions of the Act.

[6] The Respondent states that the Applicant was dismissed because a number of issues relating to his performance and conduct.

Relevant Legislation

[7] Section 366 of the Act provides:

366 Time for application

366(1) An application under section 365 must be made:

(a) within 21 days after the dismissal took effect; or
(b) within such further period as the FWC allows under subsection (2).

366(2) The FWC may allow a further period if the FWC is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, taking into account:

(a) the reason for the delay; and
(b) any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal; and
(c) prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay); and
(d) the merits of the application; and
(e) fairness as between the person and other persons in a like position.”

Approach of the Commission

[8] The considerations relevant to the assessment of whether exceptional circumstances exist have been dealt with by Full Benches exist have been dealt with by Full Benches (see: McConell v A & PM Fornatoro t/a Tony’s Plumbing Service (2011) 202 IR 59; Nulty v Blue Star Group Pty Ltd (2011) 203 IR 1; (Nulty) and Robinson v Interstate Transport Pty Ltd (2011) FWAFB 2728). The following useful summary was provided in Nulty:

“[13] In summary, the expression "exceptional circumstances" has its ordinary meaning and requires consideration of all the circumstances. To be exceptional, circumstances must be out of the ordinary course, or unusual, or special, or uncommon but need not be unique, or unprecedented, or very rare. Circumstances will not be exceptional if they are regularly, or routinely, or normally encountered. Exceptional circumstances can include a single exceptional matter, a combination of exceptional factors or a combination of ordinary factors which, although individually of no particular significance, when taken together are seen as exceptional. It is not correct to construe "exceptional circumstances" as being only some unexpected occurrence, although frequently it will be. Nor is it correct to construe the plural "circumstances" as if it were only a singular occurrence, even though it can be a one off situation. The ordinary and natural meaning of "exceptional circumstances" includes a combination of factors which, when viewed together, may reasonably be seen as producing a situation which is out of the ordinary course, unusual, special or uncommon.”

[9] The onus of establishing exceptional circumstances is on the Applicant who needs to provide a credible reason for the whole of the period that the application was delayed. (See: Cheval Properties Pty Ltd (t/as Penrith Hotel Motel) v Smithers [2010]197 IR 403).

[10] This point was emphasised by the Full Bench in the recent decision of Diotti v Lenswood Cold Stores Co-op Society t/a Lenswood Organic[2016] FWCFB 349 which, although concerned with the unfair dismissal application, contained the following statement, which is equally applicable to a s.365 application:

“[29] The appellant relies upon the Full Bench decision in Mitchell Shaw v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited T/A ANZ Bank[2015] FWCFB 287 (Shaw and ANZ), at paragraph [12] the majority decision states:

‘[12] This decision makes an important point which we consider deserves re-emphasising. The delay required to be considered is the period beyond the prescribed 21 day period for lodging an application. It does not include the period from the date of the dismissal to the end of the 21 day period. …’

[30] This extract must be read in its entirety. The decision goes on to state:

‘[12] … The circumstances from the time of the dismissal must be considered in order to determine whether there is a reason for the delay beyond the 21 day period and ultimately whether that reason constitutes exceptional circumstances.’

[31] Hence, the decision emphasised that while the delay to be considered is the period subsequent to the expiration of 21 days, the circumstances from the time of the dismissal must be considered in determining whether the reason for the delay constitutes exceptional circumstances. For example if an applicant is in hospital for the first 20 days of the 21 day period this would be a relevant consideration if the application was filed 2 days out of time as occurred in this matter. The reason for the delay by reference to the circumstances from the date the dismissal took effect is as expressed in Shaw and ANZ  the correct approach.”

Commission Proceedings

[11] On 23 November 2015, the parties were advised by the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) that the application had not been made within 21 days of the dismissal taking effect. Directions were issued for the filing of witness statements and submissions as to whether the Commission should grant further time for lodgement pursuant to s.366(2) of the Act. The matter was listed for hearing on 18 January 2016.

[12] The Applicant was self-represented. The Respondent was represented by Mr B. Whitehead, its Human Resources Manager.

Matters to be taken into account pursuant to s.366(2)

[13] In deciding whether to allow a further period for an application to be made the Commission must take into account the matters set out in s.366(2) above. I will deal with each of those matters separately.

(a) The reason for the delay

[14] The material submitted in this matter was voluminous. I was also provided with the file for an application by the Applicant pursuant to s.394. A notice of discontinuance was lodged with respect to that matter.

[15] Based on the documentation provided, the parties’ submissions and their oral submissions at the hearing, it appears that the Applicant registered for e-filing on 31 August 2015. He did not properly login or file the application.

[16] On 7 September he again registered for e-filing. It appears that he then filed an application but used the Fair Work Commission’s unfair dismissals form. A range of difficult conversations then took place with Commission staff leading to the 20 October lodgement.

[17] The essential reason the Applicant gives for his lateness was the difficulty he had with the process of electronic lodgement. This does not establish exceptional circumstances. Applicants lodge electronically every day without difficulty. There are of course, other avenues for lodgement. Moreover, the incorrect lodgement on 7 September was some five days out of time.

[18] Accordingly, the reasons for delay cited by the Applicant fall short of establishing exceptional circumstances.

(b) Any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal

[19] The Applicant took a range of actions to dispute his dismissal, including repeated emails to the Respondent, contact with members of parliament etc.

[20] However, I am not satisfied that this is a matter of significance in the circumstances of this case.

(c) Prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay)

[21] Given the overall facts, the Respondent would be prejudiced by the time and costs involved in further litigation.

(d) Merits of the application

[22] The Applicant alleges that he was dismissed because he had made complaints about a number of issues including student behaviour and he was pressured to sign documents. He had lodged a formal bullying complaint in accordance with the Respondent’s procedures.

[23] The Respondent says that as part of its review of its casual plumbing instructor staff resources it decided to terminate the Applicant. It did so because of a number of issues relating to the Applicant’s conduct and performance. It appears to me likely that the Respondent would be able to show that these were the operative reasons for the dismissal.

[24] I do not consider that the merits of the application give weight to the existence of exceptional circumstances.

(e) Fairness as between the person and other persons in a like position

[25] This factor was not addressed and has not been taken into account.

Conclusion and Order

[26] Having considered all of the factors set out in s.366(2), I am not satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances warranting the granting of a further period for the making of an application under s.366(2). Accordingly, the application is dismissed.

Order

Pursuant to s.587 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act), the application made by Thomas Russell under s.365 of the Act is dismissed.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Appearances:

T. Russell, Applicant;

B. Whitehead, for the Respondent.

Hearing details:

2016

January 18 (Telephone hearing).

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