1
Fair Work Act 2009
s.365—General protections
Liam Destounis
v
Formplus Formwork Pty Ltd
(C2023/3131)
VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI SYDNEY, 9 AUGUST 2023
Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal – application dismissed.
[1] On 30 May 2023, Mr Liam Destounis (applicant) has made an application under s.365
of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act). The applicant alleges that he was dismissed in
contravention of the general protection provisions in Part 3-1 of the Act.
[2] The application was not accompanied by the fee prescribed by the Fair Work
Regulations 2009 (Cth) (regulations) or by a completed application for waiver of the lodgement
fee (waiver application). The applicant has not responded to correspondence from the
Commission alerting him to this deficiency, nor has the deficiency been rectified. I have decided
to dismiss the application for the following reasons.
Context
[3] On 4 June 2023 the Commission emailed correspondence to Mr Destounis’ nominated
email address advising that his application required payment of the filing fee or a completed
waiver form if he wished to proceed with the application. The email further stated as follows:
“Please pay the application fee within 7 calendar days (or apply to have the fee
waived) so we can progress your case.
If you don’t make payment within 7 days your application may be dismissed.”
[4] On 7 June 2023 and 9 June 2023, the Commission emailed correspondence to Mr
Destounis’ nominated email address reminding that his application required payment of the
filing fee or a completed waiver form if he wished to proceed with the application. The
correspondence instructed the applicant on how to pay the application fee or make a waiver
application and further stated as follows:
“Reminder: You need to pay the application fee (or apply to have the fee
waived) or your application may be dismissed.”.
[2023] FWC 1989
DECISION
AUSTRALIA FairWork Commission
[2023] FWC 1989
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[5] Another attempt to contact Mr Destounis on his nominated telephone number was made
by the Commission on 14 June 2023 to obtain payment or a completed waiver form. The
Commission also attempted to call ‘Employee Dismissals’, the applicant’s nominated
representative, on their nominated telephone number. Both calls were not answered, and a
voicemail message was left advising that payment of the required fee was still outstanding.
[6] On 31 July 2023, the Commission emailed correspondence to Mr Destounis’
representative, Employee Dismissals, advising the filing fee has not been paid. The email
further stated as follows:
“The Commission has contacted the Applicant to pay the lodgment fee several time
however the fee remains unpaid. If the fee is not paid within the next 7 days, the
application will be dismissed without further notice.”
[7] To date, the applicant has not paid the lodgement fee or filed a completed waiver
application.
Legislative framework
[8] In relation to an application made pursuant to s.365 of the Act, s.367(1) provides that
the application “must be accompanied by any fee prescribed by the regulations.” At the time
the application was made, the regulations prescribed a fee of $77.80. The regulations also allow
for an application to be made for the fee to be waived.
[9] Section 587 of the Act provides as follows:
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), the FWC must not dismiss an application under
section 365 or 773, or an application under section 527F that does not consist solely of
an application for a stop sexual harassment order, on the ground that the application:
(a) is frivolous or vexatious; or
(b) has no reasonable prospects of success.
[2023] FWC 1989
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(3) The FWC may dismiss an application:
(a) on its own initiative; or
(b) on application.
Consideration and conclusion
[10] The applicant has neither paid the lodgement fee nor sought a fee waiver. Accordingly,
the application is not made in accordance with s.367 of the Act.
[11] The applicant has taken no action to address the deficiency despite being notified of it
by the Commission on multiple occasions. In these circumstances, I have decided to exercise
my discretion to dismiss the application in accordance with s 587(1)(a) of the Act.
[12] The application is dismissed.
VICE PRESIDENT
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PR765046
THE FAIR WORK AHOTRALI NOISSIWAND THE SEAA
