James Cook University v Ridd

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Judgment Date: 22 July 2020
• Neutral Citation: [2020] FCAFC 123
• Date: 22 July 2020
• Court: Full Federal Court (Australia)

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

James Cook University v Ridd [2020] FCAFC 123

Appeal from:	Ridd v James Cook University [2019] FCCA 997; Ridd v James Cook University (No 2) [2019] FCCA 2489
File number:	QUD 567 of 2019
Judges:	GRIFFITHS, RANGIAH AND SC DERRINGTON JJ
Date of judgment:	22 July 2020
Catchwords:	INDUSTRIAL LAW – interpretation of Enterprise Agreement – whether Code of Conduct incorporated – whether disciplinary action taken for breaches of Code of Conduct contravened Enterprise Agreement – meaning and effect of cl 14 of Enterprise Agreement relating to Intellectual Freedom – relationship between cl 14 and Code of Conduct ; INDUSTRIAL LAW – interpretation of Enterprise Agreement – extent of obligations of confidentiality on parties involved in disciplinary processes – whether directions given pursuant to Enterprise Agreement and/or employer’s common law right breached Enterprise Agreement ; INDUSTRIAL LAW– appeal from penalty judgment – Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 557 – whether primary judge erred in rejecting contention there was a single course of conduct ; DAMAGES– assessment of general damages – whethererror shown in trial judge’s assessment – whether compensation order under s 545(2) can include component for shock, distress, hurt or humiliation
	PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether proceedings should be remitted to Federal Circuit Court for new hearing – where issue not in dispute at trial – where party bound by way matter conducted at trial ; PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE– interveners – whether leave should be granted
Legislation:	Constitution s 109 Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 46AA Australian National University Act 1946 (Cth) Australian National University Act 1991 (Cth) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 3(e), 12, 29, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 172(1), 172(2), 186, 257, 340, 346, 392(4), 545(1)-(2), 557 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 24(1)(d), 28(1) Legislation Act 2003 (Cth) s 8 Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) reg 1.07 Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) rr 36.32, 36.57 Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 (Qld) ss 15, 38 James Cook University Act 1997 (Qld) ss 4, 5, 7, 8 Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld) ss 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24(c)
Cases cited:	Accident Towing & Advisory Committee v Combined Motor Industries Pty Ltd [1987] VR 529 Ah Toy v Registrar of Companies(1985) 10 FCR 280 Aldi Foods Pty Ltd v Morrocanoil Israel Ltd [2018] FCAFC 93; 261 FCR 301 Allesch v Maunz [2000] HCA 40; 203 CLR 172 Amcor Limited v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union[2005] HCA 10; 222 CLR 241 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union[2018] HCA 3; 262 CLR 157 Australian Industry Group v Fair Work Australia[2012] FCAFC 108; 205 FCR 339 Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association v International Aviation Service Assistance Pty Ltd[2011] FCA 333; 193 FCR 526 Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union v Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia [1998] FCA 249; 82 FCR 175 Australian National University v Burns (1982) 64 FLR 166 Australian Rail, Tram & Bus Industry Union v KDR Victoria Pty Ltd t/a Yarra Trams [2014] FCAFC 24 Bailey v Nominal Defendant [2004] QCA 344 Banque Commercial SA v Akhil Holdings Ltd[1990] HCA 11; 169 CLR 279 Burns v Australian National University (1982) 61 FCR 76 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd [1995] HCA 24; 185 CLR 410 City of Wanneroo v Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union [2006] FCA 813; 153 IR 426 City of Wanneroo v Holmes [1989] FCA 553; 30 IR 362 Coleman v Power[2004] HCA 39; 220 CLR 1 Commissioner of Taxation v Scone Race Club Ltd[2019] FCAFC 225; 374 ALR 189 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill[2010] FCAFC 39; 269 ALR 1 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Hay Point Services Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 182 Coulton v Holcombe [1986] HCA 33; 162 CLR 1 D’Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid [2005] HCA 12; 223 CLR 1 Director of Prosecutions (Nauru) v Fowler[1984] HCA 48; 154 CLR 627 Dynamic Hearing Pty Ltd v Polaris Communications Pty Ltd[2010] FCAFC 135; 273 ALR 696 Ex parte McLean[1930] HCA 12; 43 CLR 472 Fair Work Ombudsman v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (the Hutchison Ports Appeal) [2019] FCAFC 69 Geo A Bond and Co Ltd (in liq) v McKenzie [1929] AR 499 George A Bond & Co Ltd (in liq) v McKenzie [1929] AR(NSW) 498 Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd v Reinhart [2017] FCAFC 170; 257 FCR 442 Harmer v Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Limited[2013] FCAFC 63; 299 ALR 236 Holdway v Arcuri Lawyers (A Firm) [2008] QCA 218; [2009] 2 Qd R 18 House v The King[1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Jemena Asset Management (3) Pty Ltd v Coinvest Ltd [2011] HCA 3; 244 CLR 508 Kucks v CSR Limited [1996] 66 IR 182 Kuru v State of New South Wales [2008] HCA 26; 236 CLR 1 National Tertiary Education Union v La Trobe University [2015] FCAFC 142; 254 IR 238 O’Brien v Komesaroff [1982] HCA 33; 150 CLR 310 Optical 88 Ltd v Optical 88 Pty Ltd[2011] FCAFC 130; 197 FCR 67 Parker v Australian Building and Construction Commissioner[2019] FCAFC 56; 270 FCR 39 Patrick Stevedores Holdings Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Maritime and Energy Union[2019] FCA 1647 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority[1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 R v The Darling Island Stevedoring and Lighterage Co Ltd; Ex parte Halliday; Ex parte Sullivan[1938] HCA 44; 60 CLR 601 Richardson v Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 82; 223 FCR 334 Ridd v James Cook University (No 2) [2019] FCCA 2489 Ridd v James Cook University [2019] FCCA 997 Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v iiNet Ltd[2011] HCA 54; 248 CLR 37 Robinson Helicopter Company Inc v McDermott[2016] HCA 22; 331 ALR 550 Sharma v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] FCAFC 227; 256 FCR 1 Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association v Woolworths SA Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 67 Short v FW Hercus Pty Ltd[1993] FCA 51; 40 FCR 511 Soliman v University of Technology, Sydney [2009] FCAFC 159 Stewart v Biodiesel Producers Limited [2008] FCAFC 66 SZRPT v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] FCA 24 Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd v Marmara[2014] FCAFC 84; 222 FCR 152 Transport Workers’ Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch v No Fuss Liquid Waste Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 982 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) [1985] HCA 28; 59 ALJR 481 Wentworth v Woollahra Municipal Council (No 2) [1982] HCA 41; 149 CLR 672 WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene [2018] FCAFC 131; 264 FCR 536
Date of hearing:	26 and 27 May 2020
Registry:
Division:
National Practice Area:
Category:	Catchwords
Number of paragraphs:	294
Counsel for the Appellant:	Mr B Walker SC with Mr Y Shariff and Ms V Bulut
Solicitor for the Appellant:	Clayton Utz
Counsel for the Respondent:	Mr S Wood QC with Mr B Kidston and Mr B Jellis
Solicitor for the Respondent:	Mahoneys Lawyers
Counsel for the Intervener:	Ms S Kelly
Solicitor for the Intervener:	National Tertiary Education Union

ORDERS

		QUD 567 of 2019
BETWEEN:	JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY Appellant
AND:	PETER VINCENT RIDD Respondent
JUDGES:	GRIFFITHS, RanGiah and SC DERRINGTON jJ
DATE OF ORDER:	22 July 2020

THE...