Ward, Leonard Edward v Williams, Hughie

[1984] FCA 60

P

I. '

BETWEEN : LEONARD EDIJARD bJARD, GREGORY JOHN ' M Y ,

LAWRENCE JOHN TURNER, BRIAN STUART LEE,

LESLIE KONALD LEE, ROY LESLIE LINCOLW,

DOiTALi) LYNALD BARDEN, RONALD JAMS POTTER

and JOED CHARLES PENEIALLURICK

A p p l i c a n t s

- "D : BUGHIE WILLIAMS , AT>LAR PIcPAUL , CLARENCE

-	ROHWEDER, ' GREGORY NEWTON, HENRY ASYLIN ,
STUART CEOSBY, DAVID PEARCE, KERVYN
:(ENDALL, PETER THOXSON a n m 1 T S P E T E X

Responden t s

O R D E R !

JUDGE ILPi?<ING ORDZR: - Neaves J .

-	DATE 3F OXDDCR:	78 March	1 9 8 4
WHERE WiEE :	Canberra

I

I T 1s FEPGZBY ORDERED - that Hughie Nilliams, Allan NcPau i ,

Clarecce Rohweder , Gregory Newton, Henry A s p l i n , S t u a r t

Crosby , Davidi P e a r c e , Mervyn : < e n d a l l , P e t e r Thornson and

J o h n H i n s p e t e r ( " t h e r e s p o n d e n t s " ) appear before the

F e d e r a l Court o f Austral ia at Brisbane Ln the S t a t e of

i Q u e e n s l a n d on a clate ancl at a time to be n o t i f i e d t o the

p a r t 1 e . s t o show cause why clrdcrs s h o u l d not be made undei-

s e c t l o n 141 ot {:he C c n c l l i a t l o n a n d A r b i t r a t i o n Act 1904

g i v i n g d l r e c t j o n s t h a t t h e r e s p o n d e n t s o b s e r v e r u l e r .

l.

2 2 , 3 0 , 22. 33 and 47 of the rules of the Transport

_ _ , : .orksrs' L2ion of Aus t r a l i a and why orders shollld no t

be made i n terms of sub-paragraphs 1 t o 11 inc lus ive o f

paragraph A of the appl ica t ion da ted 19 March 1984

f i l e d h e r e i n on behalf o f Leonard Edvard Ward, Gregory

John Ray, Lawrence John Turner, Brian Stuart Lee, Leslie

Ronald Lee, Roy Lesl ie Lincoln, Donald Lynald Barclen,

Ronald Jarnes P o t t e r and John Penhalluriclc ("the applicants")

AND I T I S HEREBY FURTHER ORDERED that pending the hear ing

and determination of t h i s m a t t e r o r u n t i l f u r t h e r o r d e r

1

the respondents be restrained from giving effect t o so

much o f t he r e so lu t ion o f t h e Committee of Management of

t h e Queensland Eranch of the Transport Workers' Union of

Aus t r a l i a ca r r i ed on 15 March 19Sh as p rov ides tha t -

the Brisbane Sub-B-ranch Secretary Eughie

Wllliams he appointed as a Branch Organizer;

a l l Branch Organizers performing d u t y i n

the Brisbane Sub-Branch a rea r epor t ve rba l ly

and i n wri t ing to the Brisbane Sub-Branch

Secre ta ry on	a l l m a t t e r s , i n c l u d i n g	all
disputes ;

the Brisbane Sub-Branch Secre ta ry hax7e

f r e e a c c e s s t o all sec t ions of t h e , ,

Queensland Eranch Offices and. complete

access to correspondence and documents

of t h e t h i s o rde r sha l l no t p reven t Queensland Branch pro-qided, that.

the Brisbane

Sub-Rranch Secre ta ry havmg access to

the membership records of the Queensland

Branch r e l a t l n g t o the members of the

Brisbane Sub-Branch; and

the Queensland Branch meke a v a i l a b l e t o

the Brisbzne Sub-Sranch Secretary staff

a t p r e s e n t employed by the Queensland

Branch and pelrEorming duty l n t h e

Queensland Granch OfEices.

L .

&NE ZT 1s ?!!REBY FURTHER ORDERED thar the costs of the

2ppliserLon be reserved.

I

3 .

.

BETWEEN :

A p p l i c a n t s

1

- ALUD : HUGHIE WILLIANS, ALLAN McPAUL, CLARENCE

ROHWEDER, GREGORY NEVTON , HENRY ASPLIN,

STUART CROSEY, DAVID PEARCE, MEKVYN

KENDALL, PETER THOHSOX and JOHN E-IJNSPETER

Respondents

coRA1: :	Neaves J .
28 PIarch 1984
-	DATE :

REASONS FOR JUDGI4ENT

T h i s i s an application by Leonard Edward Ward,

Gregory John Ray, La r r r ence John Turne r , Brian S t u a r t L e e ,

L e s l i e P,onald L e e , Roy L e s h e L i n c o l n , D o n a l d L y n a l d

Barden , Ronald James P o t r e r and John Charles P e n h a l l u r i c k

("the a p p l l c a n t s " ) €or a r u l e n i s i c a l l l n g u p o n H u g h i e

I J i l l i a rns , Allan ?IcPaul, Clarence Rohweder , Gregory Newton,

Henry Asp l in , S tua r t Crosby , Dav id Pea rce , P i e rvyn Kenda l l . ,

1.

I

?e te r Thozson and John Hinspeter ("the respondents") to

shcx c 2 s s why orders shoulci nor be made under sect ion 141

of t he Conc i l i a t ion and Arb i t r a t ion Act 1 9 0 4 ("the Act")

giving directions for the performance or observance by the

rcspondents of c e r t a i n r u l e s of the Transport Workers'

Union of Australia ("the Union"). The app l i can t s a l so

seek iEterim orders pending the hearing of t h e rule - nis i .

The Union i s an organiza t ion reg is te red pursuant

t o t h e Act. There 1 s a branch oE t h e Union knotm a s t h e

Queensland Branch. That branrh i s d iv ided in to n ine sub-

branches, ose o f those sub-branches being knovm as the

Brisbane Sub-Branch.

Subject to the provis ions of the A c t , t h e supreme

cont ro l of t h e Union i s v e s t e d i n a Federal Council con-

s t i t u t e d by a representat ive or representat ives f rom each

branch (called Federal Councillors) and the Fedexal Secretary

and the Federal Counci l e lects Ass is tan t Federa l Secre ta ry ( sub- ru le 5 ( a ) ) . The

a Federal Comnittee of Management

( sub- ru le 5(c) and r u l e 2 3 ) . Each branch e lec ts a Branch

Cormnlttee of Management cons is t ing o f a Branch P res iden t ,

Branch Vice-Yresident, Branch Secretary, two Trus tees and

not less than 7 and not more than 11 Committeemen (sub-

r u l e 5 ( g ) and r u l e 3 0 ) . The President, Vice President ,

Secre ta ry and Trus tees a re e lec ted by a b a l l o t o f t h e ~ r h o l e

o f t h e members of the branch who are e l i g i b l e t o v o t e .

L

I!

I n t h e czss of the Queensland Branch, the Committeemen

a r e -.lec:ed by a b a l l o t of the members i n each sub-branch

who a r e e l i g i b l e t o v o t e on the iol lowing basis - Bris-

I

bane 4 ; Rockhampton 1; Wide Bay 1; Toovoomba, Warwick and

Roma 1; Ipswich and Ringaroy 1 , and Northern Queensland l

(sub-ru le 30(b) ) . The Branch Committee of Management

of che Queensland Branch, therefore, consists of 1 4 members.

Each o f t he app l i can t s i s a member o f t he Union.

A t e l ec t ions r ecen t ly he ld fo r t he Queensland Branch ( the

r e s u l t s o f which were declared on 9 March 1 9 8 4 ) , Mr. Ward

was elected Branch Secrecary. The f u l l t i t l e o f h is o f f i c e

IS “Secretary - Treasurer - Federal Committee of Manageaent -

Federal Council Representative“ but, for convenience, I

shall r e f e r t o t h e o f f i c e as t h a t of Branch Secretary.

Messrs. Ray, Turner, B.S . Lee, L.R. Lee and Lincoln v7ere

e lec ted %ranch Organizers to carry out dut ies i n the

Brisbane Sub-Branch area or as directed by the Branch

Secre ta ry . Mr. Barden was elected Branch Organizer to

car ry out du t ies in the Ipswich Sub-Branch a r e a o r as

d i r ec t ed by t h e Branch Secretary. M r . P o t t e r was e lec t ed

zd Branch Trustee. Mr. PenhaL1uz)ick does not hold any

o f f i c e i n the Queensland Branch. O f t he app l i can t s , on ly

Messrs. Vard, Xarden and Po t t e r a r e members of the Branch

Committee o E Manegement .

Of the respondents , Nr, Wllliams, who previous ly

he ld o f f i ce as Branch Secretary, was defeated i n t h e e l e c t i o n

I .

f o r :ht pos i t i on by Mr. Ward. Mr. 1-Jilliams r r a s , however,

e lecssd Srisbane Sub-Branch Secre ta ry , an honorary posi t ion

which h s had held before the elect ion. There i s evidence

that each of the other respondents i s a member o f t h e

I

Branch Committee of Management though that evidence does

no t e s t ab l i sh what pos i t i on Mr. Crosby holds which results

i n him being a member o f t ha t committee.

On 15 March 1984 t h e Branch Committee o f Manage-

ment, by a major i ty of 8 v o t e s t o 5 , c a r r i e d a r e s o l u t i o n

i n t h e f o l l o w i n g terms -

"That i n view of the almost total change of

Organisers in the Br isbane Sub-Branch and the

considerable lack of experience by t h e newly-

e lec ted Organisers , and tak ing in to cons idera t ion

t h e d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t t h i s will have on the rank

and f i l e members, pa r t i cu la r ly in the Br i sbane

Sub-Branch, t h i s BRANCH COMMiTTEE OF WINAGEPENT

DETEPJUNES -THAT -

The Branch s h a l l make ava l lab le t o the Brisbane

Sub-Branch Secretary, IIughie Williams , Room

twenty-one ( 2 1 ) , F i r s t Floor , Trades Hal l ,

Brisbane, for the purpose of conducting the

business, of the Brlsbane sub-Branch.

Room twenty-one (21) w i l l a l so be u t i l i s e d

for the purpose of the Brisbane Sub-Branch

Executive Pketings.

Room Twenty-one ( 2 1 ) w i l l be suppl ied with a

Committee table for the conduct oE t h e Exec-

u t i v e Sub-Branch Meetings, Office desk,

telephone, and all necessary office equlpmenc

and f u r n i t u r e t o conducr the administratlon

and business of the Brisbane Sub-Branch.

The Branch Secretary shal l make a v a i l a b l e t o

the Brisbane Sub-Branch, the necessary meeting

rooms t o conduct the Branch monthly General

Meetings t h a t a r e h e l d on the first Friday of

each month, and any other such meetings that

may be necessary to be convened T l i t h i n the

Brisbane Sub-Branch.

The Erisbane Sub-Branch Sec re t a ry sha l l have

f z z z x c e s s t o a l l sections of the Queensland

E z a z h Off ices , a lso the Brisbane Sub-Branch

S z c r e t a r y s h a l l have ccmplete access to a l l

correspondence and documents t h a t may be re-

qu i r ed to ca r ry out his necessary d u t i e s .

The Brisbane Sub-Branch Secretary i s au thor i sed

to dea l d i r ec t w i th the Un ion ' s So l i c i to r s -

I McCrossan ti Douglas - on a l l m a t t e r s p e r t a i n i n g

to the Br i sbane Sub-Branch and i t s members,

provided that a l l cos ts incur red are au thor i sed

by t h e Branch Conmittee o f Management.

All Brisbane Sub-Branch Organisers shall r e p o r t

ve rba l ly and i n w r i t i n g tc the Br isbane Sub-

Branch Secretary on a l l matters, inc luding a l l

d isputes . The Brisbane Sub-Branch Secretary

will n o t i f y t h e Branch Secretary of a l l t hese

mat te rs .

The Brisbane Sub-Branch Secretary shall be Co-

ordinator and Minuce Secre ta ry o f the Transpor t

Workers' Union Safe ty Committee, and t h e Trans-

por t Workers Union	- TUTA Trade Union	Tra in ing
Committee.

The Sub-Branch Sec re t a ry sha l l call t h e above

Meetings as deemed necessary. He sha l l fo rward

the copies of a l l minutes to the Branch Secre ta ry .

The Brisbane Sub-Branch Secretary shall be com-

p e t e n t t o make press statements on a l l m a t n e r s

p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e d u t i e s a s o u t l i n e d .

The Branch sha l l con t inue to lnake a v a i l a b l e t o

the 3 r i sbane Sub-Branch Secre ta ry any necessary

o f f i ce s t aEf which t r i l l a t l e a s t c o n s i s t o f a

Stenographer ar,d Clerk/Typis t for the purpose

of a t tending t o correspondence, membership

records , and any other purpose necessary to

administer the Brisbane Sub-Branch. The S t a f f ,

as mentioned, shal l be immediately responsible

to the Br i sbane Sub-Branch Secretary. A l l

correspondence to the Brisbane Sub-Branch shall

immediately be forwarded t o the Brisbane Sub-

Branch Secretary f o r h i s a tnen t ion acd a c t i o n . , ,

The Branch s h a l l make avaihbl -e a te lephone a t

the res idence and a t t he oEf i ce o f the Brisbane

Sub-Branch Secre ta ry , and shall pay all Union

c a l l s and the r en t SI such telephones.

5 .

-1

L E Sranch sha l l cont inue to make a v a i l a b l e

to =he Brisbane Sub-Branch Secretary the

.-. t.rarLci Notor Vehicle, Ford, Registration No.

7450xi, and s h a l l pay fo r t he fue l and

mainrenance costs.

This Branch Committee of tlanagement f u r t h e r

determines that in pursuance to Rule 3 0 , Che

Brisbane Sub Branch Secretary Hughie John

Nilliams be appointed as a Branch Orga?' L I s e r .

He s h a l l be domiciled i n Brisbane and carry

out organis ing duties i n a l l p a r t s o f t h e

Brisbane Sub-Branch. He s h a l l a s s i s t in

a l l	o ther mat te rs re levant to the Branch .
The	Organ i se r , hav ing r ega rd fo r a l l o the r

r e spons ib i l i t i e s , e .g . Br i sbane Silb-Eranch

Secre ta ry and all o the r du t i e s a s p rev ious ly

o u t l i n e d , s h a l l be paid a s a l a r y and allowance

equa l t o that pa id to the Branch I n d u s t r i a l

Research Officer as detei-mined	by	t h e	Branch
Committee of Management.

He s h a l l be e n t i t l e d t o r e t a i n a l l a c c r u e d

Annual Leave, Sick Leave and Long Serv ice

Leave and he sha l l cont inue EO a c c r u e a l l

such leave i n accordance with the Rules and

Pol icy of t h e Union.

The Eranch Secretary will ensure that izhe

necessa ry Cer t i f l ca t e s oE Author i t i e s a re

immediately supplied to a l l Organisers and

Off icers , whether e lected or appointed.

He xi11 t ake up h l s du t ies as above, com-

mencing on Friday, 16 th March, 1984. "

The app l i can t ' s con tec t ion i s that in ca r ry ing

t h i s r e s o l u t i o n t h e Branch Committee of Management was

ac t ing in breach of the ru les of the Union. The a-ctack

upon t h e r e s o l u t i o n i s p u t i n two trays. F i r s t , it i s

sa id tha t t he r e so lu t ion con ta ins s ign i f i can t pa r t s which

a re con t r a ry to the ru l e s and t h a t i t s p rov i s ions a re

so inter locked that , conceding that sone p a r t s of i t a r e

cons is ten t ~ r i t - h the rules , those par ts cannot be severed

so t h a t t h e whole r e s o l u t i o n f a l l s . A l t e r n a t i v e l y i t i s

6 .

i

se id t l x t s p e c i f i c p a r t s of the resolution should be

s e t asit% as be ing con t r a ry to the ru l e s .

I

The cons idera t ions re levant to the ques t ion

whether a r u l e n i s i -should be g r a n t e d d i f f e r from those

relevant t o t h e g r a n t , assuming a r u l e i s t o i s s u e , of

in te r im re l ie f pending the f ina l de te rmina t ion of the

i s sues . The former question depends upon the appl icants

s a t i s f y i n g the Court that there i s an arguable issue or

a rguable i ssues in d ispute be tween the par t ies i n r e l a t i o n

,

to vh ich the app l i can t s are ent i t led t o have an opportunity

t o p r e s e n t argument and obta in a decision of the Court:

see Geneff v. Pe tersen (1980) 4 9 F.L.R. 64 . The appl icants

concede t h a t , t o o b t a i n i n t e r i m r e l i e f , t h e y must show

t h a t t h e r e i s a probab i l i t y tha t t he app l l ca t ion ??ill

succeed a t t h e f i n a l h e a r i n g , i f t h e e v i d e n c e r e m a l n s t h e

same: Beecham Group L t d . v . Er l s to l Labora tor ies P t y . L t d .

(19SG) 118 C.L.R. 618: but see The Commonwealth of Austl-alla

v. John Fairfax & Sons L t d . (1980) 1 4 7 C .L .R . 39 a t p. 49

and The Axstralian Coarse Grain Pool Pty. L t d . v. The Barlev

Marketing Board of Queensland (1952) 57 A . L . J . R . 425.

The appl ica t ion for the gran t of a r u l e n l s l was

not made - ex pa r t e a s Order 4 , sub-rule 15(3) of t h e r u l e s

of t h i s Court permit but upon not ice to the respondents .

The appl lca t ion i s supported by an a f f i d a v i t sworn by Mr.

Ward and upon which he 17as cross-examined. Oral evldence

was given for the respondents by Mr. Hinspeter and by

7

:.I~SS ?L.?. Johnson, an employee of the Queensland Branch

of t>e Znion. The respondents oppose the naking of a

r u l e - n i s i and also contend that , i f a rule n i s i be issued,

no case hes been made f o r t h e g r a n t o f I n t e r i m r e l i e f .

I

On an applicacion such 2s t h i s it i s inappropr ia te

I

t o deal w i t h t h e f a c t s i n any g r e a t e r d e t a i l t h a n i s necessary

f o r an understanding of the issues which now a r i s e f o r

dec is ion .

,

There i s evidence before m e t ha t , a l t hough izhe

Queensland Branch Secretary i s e lec ted by t h e members of the

branch who Secre ta ry i s e l ec t ed by a r e e l i g i b l e t o v o t e and the Brisbane Sub-Branch

t h e members of that sub-branch, t h e

s i t u a t i o n f o r many years has been t h a t t h e same person has

been e lec ted to both of f ices . A s already appears that

pa t te rn of vo t ing d id not emerge a t t he r ecen t e l ec t ion ,

Hr. Ward Secretary and defea t ing Mr. Willj.ams fo r t he pos i t i on o f Branch

Mr. Williams defeatmg Mr. 17ard f o r t h e

pos i t i on of Secretary of the Brisbane Sab-Branch.

H i s to r i ca l ly the a f f a l r s o f t he Br i sbane Sub-

Branch have been administered from the ofEices of the

Queensland Branch i n t h a t c i t y and the sub-branch has not

had separate Branch d iEfers from premises . In this respect the Brisbane Sub-

some of the other sub-branches where

off ice premises are provlded by the Queensland Branch for

a .

I

zho irse of the honorary secretary of the sub-branch,

t h e s:?-grEnch executive and the branch organizer per-

forming dut ies in the a rea . The mode of operat ing the

Brisbane Sub-Branch was no doubt a convenient one when

the Queensland Branch Secretary also occupled the honorary

o f f i c e of Brisbane Sub-Eranch Secretary. The records

maintained in respect of the membership of the Brisbane

Sub-Branch are kept a t t he o f f i ce o f t he Queensland Branch

and the records so main ta ined are the only set of records

kept i n respec t of the membership o f that sub-branch.

1

Other sub-branches maintain the records relating to sub-

branch mezbership and a copy of those records i s kept a t

t h e o f f i c e of t h e Queensland Branch.

It of 15 March 1984 must be considered. i s aga ins t t h i s background tha t t he r e so lu t ion

The main t h r u s t of the appl icants ' a t tack on

the resolut ion concerns those par ts of IC .which purport to

appoint Kr. Williams as a Branch Organizer ~ r i t h a sa la ry

and allowance, rrhich purport to give him Eree access to a l l

sections of the Queensland Eranch Offices, which dlrect

tha t he car ry out organising d u t i e s i n a l l p a r t s of the

Brisbane Sub-Eranch and a s s l s t i n a l l other mat ters re levant

t o t h e Queensland 2ranch and require that a l l Brisbane

Sub-Branch Organizers report verbally and i n w r i t i n g t o him

on a l l m a t t e r s , i n c l u d l n g a l l d i s p u t e s , w i t h an obllgation

9 .

-..--

o n MT. ' . ! ~ ~ ~ i . a m s t o n o t i f y t h e Branch Secretary of a l l

sucn r i 1 2 C Z 2 Z S .

In suppor t o f the submiss ion tha t those par t s of

t he r e so lu t ion are con t ra ry to the ru l e s , t he app l i can t s

r e f e r t o r u l e s 2 2 ( b ) (iii) , 2 2 ( g ) , 30 (d) ( T V ) , 3 0 ( e ) , 3 2 ( e ) ,

and 33(a) (vi i ) . Those ru les provide -

"22 (b) Subjec t to para (a) hereof a

person i s e l i g i b l e t o h o l d t h e o f f i c e .of -

(yhether e l ec t ed o r

(iii) Organizer

appoin ted) ; i f he i s a f i n a n c i a l member of

the Union cont inuous ly for the prev ious

three years and i s f inanc ia l a t the t ime of

his nominat ion for e lect ion (or appointment

as the case may be) but not otherwise."

"22 (g) A person i s n o t e l i g i b l e t o

nominate f o r e l e c t i o n t o more than one

o f f i c e where the off ices concerned are

fu l i - t ime sa l a r i ed o f f i ces . "

"30 (d ) 1~7ithout l imi t ing its powers

i n any v7ay each Branch Committee cf Manage-

ment	s h a l l have power	to :
...

(%v) Determine whether organizers

s h a l l be e lec ted or appoin ted

and t h e numbsr of such o r g m i -

z e r s ,	and	to	reduce	the	number
T T

a t any t ime;

"30 (e) All paid ofElcers , Organizers

and employees of a Eranch s h a l l be sub jec t

t o the con t ro l and direction of the Branch

Committee of Xanagement as expressed through

the Eranch Secretary."

"32 The d u t i e s o f ... Eranch Organizers

s h a l l be as hereunder:

.....

1 0 .

( S )	Organizers :
(i) Branch Orgznizers shall be

e l i g i b l e f o r e l e c t i o n on t h e

Branch Cornittee of Hanagement .

(ii) Branch Organizers s h a l l assist

i n t h e work of the Branch gen-

e r a l l y , and d ischarge such dut ies

a s may be a l l o t t e d t o them by t h e

Branch Secretary. A l l moneys

co l lec ted by them s h a l l b e p a i d

ove r t o the Branch Secre ta ry

I I ,

within one week of c o l l e c t i o n .

“33 (a) E l e c t i o n s s h a l l be held i n 1979

and every three years thereaf te r for the fo l low-

ing	Branch	Cf f i ce r s	and	representa t ives :
1

.	....
[v i i ) Branch Orgsriizers i n e a c h Branch which has de temined tha t an e lec t ioa

I ,

i s r equ i r ed to f i l l such pos i t ions .

The app l i can t s a rgue tha t t he rules, on t h e i r

p roper cons t ruc t ion , requi re tha t a choice be made by t h e

Branch Cornittee of FIanagement whether Branch Organizers

a r e t o be elected or appointed and tha t , apa r t f rom the

s i t u a t i o n v h e r e t h e r e i s a casual vacancy to be f i l l e d

f o r which rule 34 makes provis ion , i t i s not permiss ib le

t o have sone elected and some appointed organizers. The

pos i t ion be lng tha t all pos i t ions of Branch Organizer

were r e c e n t l y f i l l e d by e lec t ion , the appl icants submi t

that the appointment oE Mr. Williams rrithout election C O

such a pos i t ion i s incons i s t en t w i th the ru l e s . i t i s

pointed owt t h a t , a s Mr. Williams normnated for election

t o t he sa l a r i ed fu l l - t lme pos i t i on of Branch Secretary,

’ne could nor: under the rules have nominated f o r or been

electsd an office of Branch Organizer (sub-rule 2 2 ( g ) )

It ::CS zrgued tha t , un le s s t he cons t ruc t ion o f the r u l e s

conten6ed f o r by appl icants i s accepted, the r u l e s 170uld

be con t r l ry to sec t ion 133(1 ) ( a ) o f t he Ac t .

I am n o t s a t i s f i e 6 t h a t t h i s l a t te r submission

can be r e so lved the ques t ion whe the r t he ru l e s on the i r p rope r sustained b u t t o s a y t h i s , o f course, leaves 1.111-

construction have the meaning whlch t h e a p p l i c a n t s seek

t o a s c r i b e t o them.

For the app l i can t s i t i s a l so submi t t ed tha t t he

r e s o l u t i o n o p e r a t e s t o e l e v a t e i l r . bJilliams to Eull-t ime

s t a t u s i n t h e Queensland Branch Office and that i n so f a r

as i t does so and con ta ins p rov l s ions anc i l l a ry to tha t

e leva t ion it is con t r a ry to the ru l e s r e l a t ing to the

posit ion of Branch Secretary. It i s said t h a t t h e p r o -

v i s ions of the rules conferr ing porrei-s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

on t h e Branch Secre ta ry a re such tha t he i s proper ly

descr ibed as the ch ief adnin is t ra t ive of€ icer of t h e

Queensland Branch. ?,eference i s made t o a number of

p r o v i s i o n s i n t h e r u l e s as s u p p o r t i n g t h i s v i m of the

Branch Secretary's posit ion but for present purposes it

i s s u f f l c i e n t t o r e f e r t o s u b - r u l e s 30(a) , 30 (e ) , 32 (c )

and 32(e) (ii).

Sub-rule 30(a) provldes that the Branch Secretary

i s t o be a member of the Eranch Committee o f Management by

1 2 .

I

v i r t u e of his holding the off ice of Branch Secretary.

The t s x r 2 f sub-rules 30 (e ) and 32(e) (ii) have a l ready

I been sec cut. Sub-rule 32(c) provides -

"32 . The dut les of Branch OEficers

.... s h a l l be as hereunder.

. . . .

(c ) Secre ta ry : The Branch Secretary

s h a l l be competent to d ischarge

a l l d u t i e s a s s i g n e d t o him by t h e

Branch Commlttee of Management,

and s h a l l a t t e n d a l l meetings connected

with the Branch when prac t icable . He

sha l l a t t end to a l l co r re spondence ,

keep a copy of a l l l e t t e r s and r r i r e s

despatched. He s h a l l give an o f f i c i a l

r e c e i p t f o r all moneys received, and

bank such moneys t o t h e c r e d i t o f t h e

Branch a t l e a s t weekly. He s h a l l

keep a l l documents books and accounts

re la t ing to the business of the Branch.

He s h a l l i s s u e n o t i c e s t o members,

pa r t i cu la r ly to those who a r e i n

a r r ea r s w l th t he i r dues . he s h a l l

hand over t o t h e Branch Auditor a l i

proper ty , books, documents and

moneys belonging to the Branch

within twenty-four hours or' being

requested to do so by r e so lu t lon

passed a t any meeting of the Branch

Comiiittee of Management. He s h a l l

fur ther discharge such dut ies as

may be a l l o c a t e d t o him from time

t o time by t h e Branch Committef: of

'fiianagement. He s h a l l , i f deemed

necessary, f ind securi ty in such a

sum as the Branch Commlttee oE

Nanagement may decide, the premium

t o be paid by t h e Branch. He s h a l l

be allowed a sum not exceeding $100

as determined by the Branch Comit tee

of Xanagement from time t o t i n e .

Such moun t , once determlned, shall

be reimbursed by cheque dra1.m from

the Branch Bank account for pet ty

cash , to be drawn by chequc from t h e

Branch General Fund account. T h e

Sec re t a ry sha l l be custodian of t h e

moveable property oE the Branch.

Notwlthstandmg anythmg contained

e l sewl l r re in these ru les he sha l l

a l so be in sole charge of the

Branch o f f i c e and those employees

connected with the r.jorlc thereof ."

The r e so lu t ion i s s a i d t o erode the funct ions

which t h e r u l e s c o m i t t o t h e Branch Secre ta ry . The

submission i s pu t t ha t , r ead ing the r e so lu t ion as a

whole inc luding , i n par t icular , the preamble, M r . Williams'

appointmenc was made not so that he could undertake what

may be descr ibed as the ordinary tucies of a Branch Organizer

'I

i n the Brisbane Sub-Branch a rea o r a s d i r ec t ed by the Branch

Sec re t a ry bu t i n o rde r t ha t he mighr: occupy a p o s i t i o n a s

an intersediary between the Branch Secre ta ry and t h e Branch

Organizers performing duty i n t h e S r l s b a n e Sub-Branch a rea ,

thus breaking the chain o f ccnunand cha t the ru les prescr ibe .

Such an ap?ointment i s s a i d t o be contrary to sub-rules

32 ( c ) and 32 ( e ) (ii) .

A submission i s a l so made t h a t t h e r e s o l u t i o n ,

i n so fer as i t provides for the appointment o€ Hr. Williams

as the co -o rdmato r and minute secretary of the Transport

Workers' iinion Safety Committee and the Transport Workers'

Union - TLTA Trade Union Training Committee with power t o

call meetings of those committees 2s deemed necessary i s

beyond the powers of the Branch C o n l t t e e o f Management.

Reference 1 s made to sub- ru le 32(c) .

The app l i can t s a l so a t t ack tha t pa r t o f t he

r e s o l ~ : z 5 ~ purpor t ing to aa tho r i se Fir- Williams t o i s s u e

press sca tenents . the Qceensland Branch They r e f e r t o a reso lu t ion passed by

Committee of Management on 1 6 Feb-

ruary 1 9 8 4 h ths fol lot i ing terms -

“That the policy of t h i s Union in r e spec t o f

Press Statements being made i s t h a t t h e Branch

Secre ta ry be s o l e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l media

11

scatements and releases.

The ap?lFcants a lso refer to ;ab-rule 47(c) which prescribes

a procsdure to be fol lowed for the recansiderat ion of the

s u b j e c r a a t t e r o f any resolution of the Branch Committee

of Management, a procedure which was c lear ly not fo l lowed

i n t h e i n s t a n t c a s e .

The respondents concede that the procedures

prescr ibed by r u l e 47 57ere not follorred and have stated

to the Cour t t he i r i n t en t ion no t t o proceed to implement

tha t pa r t o f t he	resolution	pending the f inal determinat ion
of the matter .

The respondents contend that the appl icants‘

submlsslons (other than that 12st r e f e r r e d t o ) f a i l t o

g ive due weight t o the p rov i s lons of sub-ru le 30(a)

providing that the Branch Corni t tee of Management i s ,

sub jecc to the ru l e s , t o have control of a l l business

oE the t o o p e r a t e Union wi th in the a rea over which i t 1 s cons t i tu ted

and sub-rule 30(e) providing t h a t a l l paid

ofEicers , organizers and	employees a r e .sub-ject t o t h e
15

concrs l 2-5 d i r e c t i o n of the Branch Commlttee of Hanage-

l e n t 1 s =->:-Pressed through the Branch Secretary. The

appl icEncs respod th2t sub- ru le 30(a) i s expressed to be

subjec t t o t h e r u l e s a d cannot operate to cut doxm the

s p e c i f i c powers given tothe Branch Secretary. A s t o sub-

ru l e 30 (e ) t he app l i czn t s s ay tha t t he r e so lu t ion does not

I g i v e t h e Branch Secrezary instruction as to how he should

per form his fu lc t ions o r e x e r c i s e h i s powers under the

ru l e s bu t pu rpor t s t o cake	powers	away	from h i n	and	confer
them upon Mr. Williams.

It i s not a?. easy task t o reconci le what appear

on t h e s u r f a c e t o be confl ic t ing provis ions of the rules

in def ln ing the respecc lve powers , func t ions and dut ies

of t h e Branch Secretar:: and the Branch Committee of

Management. In essenc2, the dlfferences between the .

p a r t i e s would appear t o stem from the emphasis +Ich they

r e spec t ive ly p l ace on ua r t i cu la r p rov i s ions oE t h e r u l e s .

Both the app l i can t s a ~ d the respondents concede chat each

r u l e must be read i n contes t o f the ru les as a whole.

The appl icants , hov.ever, s r y t h a t t h e s p e c i f l c r u l e s

ident i fy lng the func t ions o f the var ious Srznch of f ic ia l s

a r e n o t t o be read doxx 3y r e fe rence to the gene ra l powers

conferred upon the Brezch Comnittee o f Managemen:. For

the respondents the po:;ers of the Branch Commlctee of

Efanagement are sa id to be paramount.

16.

Xhat I have sald i s , I t h i n k , s u f i i c l e n t t o

sho7.i ~ 5 2 ~ there are arguable issues between the par t ies

which should be the subJecc o f f ina l r e so lu t ion by the

Court. I , therefore , propose to accede to the appl icants '

r e q u e s t t h a t a r u l e nisi be i ssued .

7: a m a l so of opinion that the appl icants have

shoIm a su f f i c i en t ly s t rong case i n r e l a t i o n t o some aspec ts

o f t he r e so lu t ion t o amount t o a p robab i l i t y ( in the sense

exp la ined in Beecham Group Ltd. v. B r i s t o l Laboraror les

I

P ty . L td . ( sup ra ) ) t ha t a t t he hea r ing they will be held

e n t l t l e d t o r e l i e f . I n r e a c h i n g t h i s c o n c l u s i o n I have

n o t , of course, underteken a p r e l i m i n a r y t r i a l o f t h e i ssues .

The p a r t i c u l a r p a r t s of t h e r e s o l u t i o n i n r e l a t i o n t o

xhich I have rcached this conclusion are those par ts of i t

uhlch purport to appolnr: Hr. NIlliams as a Branch Organizer

and t o d i r e c t t h e o t h e r Branch Organizers perforning du ty

In the Brisbane Sub-Branch a r e a t o r e p o r t t o him and not

t o t h e Branch Secretary and those par ts of i t which purport

to give Mr. Nil l iams free access t o a l l s e c t i o n s of the

Queensland Branch offices and require that stafE 2 t present

employed i n t h o s e o f f i c e s be made ava i l ab le to the S r i sbane

Sub-Eranch Secretary and be r e spons ib l e to him.

I am not satlsr 'xed chat the applicants have

shown a su f f i c i en t ly s t rong case m respec t of o ther par t s

of the re so lu t ion (assumrng a s I do f o r t h i s purpose that

I t s par ts are sexrerable) In par t icular I am not so s a t i s f i e d

1 7 .

I n rss32c1 of those parts of the reso lu t ion tha t purpor t

- co meke avEilable to the Brisbane Sub-Branch Secretary

room 2 1 , ?irst Floor, Trades H a l l , Brisbane (with appropriate

f ac i l i t i e s t he re in ) fo r t he pu r?ose o f conduc t ing the bus iness (including meetings) of the Brisbane Sub-Lranch and i t s

I o f f i c e r s and those pa r t s o f t he r e so lu t ion which would

give the Brisbane Sub-Branch Secre ta ry access to the

only se t o f membership r eco rds in ex i s t ence r e l a t ing to

members o f t ha t Sub-Branch. I n t h e l i g h t of t h e a t t i t u d e

taken by pu rpor t ing to au tho r i se the respondents to t&c par t of the resolut ion

F I r . Williems t c i s s u e p r e s s s t a t e -

ments I r e l i e f i n r e l a t i o n t h e r e t o . have no need to cons ider the ques t ion of In te r im

The balance of convenience seems t o me t o

favour the gran t of in te r im re l le f t o t he app l i can t s i n

r e l a t i o n t o t h e c a r r y i n g i n t o e i f e c c or‘ those par t s oE the

r e s o l u t i o n i d e n t i f i e d above in respec t of wh.r’ch I have

concluded that thc appl lcants hme shovm a p robab i l i t y

I

t h a t a t che hearing they will be h e l d e n t i t l e d t o r e l i e f .

For these reasons I order tha t a r u l e - n i s i

i s sue ca l l i ng upon the respondents t o show cause on a

da te and a t a time t o be n o t i f i e d t o t h e p a r t i e s why

orders should not be made under sectlon 141 of t h e Act

that the respondents observe rules 2 2 , 30 , 3 2 , 33 and

47 of the rules of the Union and orders in terms of those

set out in sub-paragraphs 1 t o 11 inc lus ive of paragraph A

18.

‘ b

r

!

r 1

o r zr-2 ~ ~ ~ L c a t i o n datecl 1 9 March 1984 f i l e d i n t h e s e

prcczs&:-=s D on beha1.f o f the appl icants . I fur ther order

thar. cke respondents be res t ra ined unt l l the f ina l de te r -

mination of t h i s matter or furcher order from g iv ing e f f ec t

t o so much of the reso lu t lon of t h e Committee of Management

of t h e Queensland Branch of the Union ca r r i ed on 15 March

1984 as provides that -

(1) the Brisbane Sub-Branch Secre ta ry Hughie

Wi1liar.s be apTointed as a Branch Organizer;

(2 ) a l l Branch Organizers performing duty i n

the Brisbane Sub-Brmch area report verbally

and i n wr i t ing to the Br isbane Sub-Branch

Secre ta ry	on	a l l m a t t e r s , i n c l u d i n g	a l l
d isputes ;

t

(3) the Brisbane Sub-Brznch Secretary have !

f r ee access to a l l s e c t i o n s o f t h e

Queensland Branch Offices and complete

access to correspondence and documents

of the Queensland Branch provided that

t h i s o rde r sha l l no t p reven t t h s Br i sbane

Sub-Branch Secretary ha-ring access to

the membership records of the Queensland

Branch r c l d t i n g t o t h e members of the

Brisbane Sab-Branch; and

(4) t h e Queensland Branch make aval lab le to

the Brisba& Sub-Branch Sec re t a ry s t a f f

a t p re sen t employed by the Queensland

Eranch and performing duty i n t h e

Queensland Eranch Offlces.

The cos ts of the appl ica t lon a re reserved .

I c e r t i f y t h a t t h i s and the preceding

eighteen (18) pages a r c a t r u e copy of

!	the Keasoss f o r Judgment herein 01 the
Ilonourable ! v i r Jus’ij cc: Neaves.
28 March 1 9 S &

l r - . - h . - : - - -

I I Assoclate

19.