Zhang v Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc

In Zhang v Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc, the respondent, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc, appealed against two orders made by the primary judge in proceedings brought by the appellant, Mr Zhang. The dispute arose out of Mr Zhang’s employment with the respondent, and his subsequent termination of employment. The appeal was heard in the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent’s decision to terminate Mr Zhang’s employment was not unreasonable, and whether the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent did not act in bad faith when it terminated Mr Zhang’s employment. The court was also required to determine whether the primary judge erred in finding that the respondent did not breach the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) when it terminated Mr Zhang’s employment.

The court held that the primary judge’s findings were not erroneous. The court found that the evidence did not support a finding that the respondent’s decision to terminate Mr Zhang’s employment was unreasonable, or that the respondent acted in bad faith. The court also found that the respondent did not breach the Fair Work Act when it terminated Mr Zhang’s employment. The appeal was therefore dismissed in its entirety.