Jensen v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Judge: WHEELAHAN J
• Judgment Date: 19 March 2020
• Neutral Citation: [2020] FCA 358
• Date: 19 March 2020
• Court: Federal Court

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Jensen v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 358

Appeals from:	Jensen v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 2137; 337 FLR 191 Palframan v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 2225 Goodwin v Cultural Infusion (Int) Pty Ltd [2018] FCCA 2224
File numbers:	VID 1130 of 2018VID 1136 of 2018VID 1137 of 2018
Judge:	WHEELAHAN J
Date of judgment:	19 March 2020
Catchwords:	INDUSTRIAL LAW – appeals from the Federal Circuit Court – appeals by way of rehearing – whether actors engaged for the performance of a travelling theatrical show were independent contractors or employees – multi-factorial test of the totality of the parties’ relationship – indicia for distinguishing between independent contractors and employees – relevance of alleged casual employment on particular indicia – appellants were independent contractors – appeals dismissed. ; EVIDENCE – application of Briginshaw or s 140(2) of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) to the civil standard of proof – whether the preliminary issue of determining the independent contractor-employee distinction itself involves allegations of gravity – s 140(2) of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) not applied in determining that preliminary issue.
Legislation:	Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 140 Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) ss 45, 323, 340, 357, 536, 546 and 548 Federal Court of Australia Act 1979 (Cth) s 24(1)(d)
Cases cited:	ACE Insurance Ltd v Trifunovski and Others (2013) 209 FCR 146 AGL Victoria Pty Ltd v SPI Networks (Gas) Pty Ltd [2006] VSCA 173 Aldi Foods Pty Ltd v Moroccanoil Israel Ltd (2018) 261 FCR 301 Allesch v Maunz (2000) 2003 CLR 172 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall (2017) 269 IR 28 Australian Building and Construction Commissioner v Hall (2018) 261 FCR 347 Australian Mutual Provident Society v Chaplin (1978) 18 ALR 385 Boensch v Pascoe (2019) 94 ALJR 112 Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Building Workers’ Industrial Union of Australia v Odco Pty Ltd (1991) 29 FCR 104 Climaze Holdings Pty Ltd v Dyson (1995) 13 WAR 487 Cohen & Co v Ockerby & Co Ltd (1917) 24 CLR 288 Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v Producers and Citizen Co-operative Assurance Company of Australia Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41 Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 1806 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v BHP Coal Pty Ltd (2015) 230 FCR 298 Devries v Australian National Railways Commission (1993) 177 CLR 472 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544 Ellis v Wallsend District Hospital (1989) 17 NSWLR 553 Fair Work Ombudsman v Ecosway Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 296 Fair Work Ombudsman v Quest South Perth Holdings Pty Ltd (2015) 228 FCR 346 Fair Work Ombudsman v Quest South Perth Holdings Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 137 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Barrett (1973) 129 CLR 395 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v J Walter Thompson (Australia) Pty Ltd (1944) 69 CLR 227 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Garcia v National Australia Bank Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 395 Hall (Inspector of Taxes) v Lorimer [1992] 1 WLR 939 Hollis v Vabu (2001) 207 CLR 21 Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union v Arnotts Biscuits Limited (2010) 188 FCR 221 London Australia Investment Company Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1977) 138 CLR 106 Lopez v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (2005) 43 FCR 574 NM Superannuation Pty Ltd v Young (1993) 41 FCR 182 Marshall v Whittaker’s Building Supply Company (1963) 109 CLR 210 Massey v Crown Life Insurance Co [1978] 1 WLR 678 Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations v Gribbles Radiology Pty Ltd (2005) 222 CLR 194 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 357 ALR 408 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Jia Legeng (2001) 205 CLR 507 Narich Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Pay-Roll Tax [1983] 2 NSWLR 597 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd (1992) 110 ALR 449 On Call Interpreters and Translators Agency Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (No 3) (2011) 214 FCR 82 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 Patrick Stevedores v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (2019) 286 IR 52 Qantas Airways Limited v Gama (2008) 167 FCR 537 R v Foster; Ex parte Commonwealth Life (Amalgamated) Assurances Ltd (1952) 85 CLR 138 Re Australian Industrial Relations Commission; ex parte Australian Transport Officers Federation (1990) 171 CLR 216 Re Porter; Re Transport Workers Union of Australia (1989) 34 IR 179 Robinson Helicopter Company Inc v McDermott (2016) 331 ALR 550 Roy Morgan Research Centre Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (1997) 37 ATT 528 Roy Morgan Centre Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2010) 184 FCR 448 Setka v Gregor (No 2) (2011) 195 FCR 203 Sparks v Hobson (2018) 361 ALR 115 Stevens v Brodribb Sawmilling Company Pty Ltd (1986) 160 CLR 16 Tattsbet Ltd v Morrow (2015) 233 FCR 46 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531 Western Australia v Ward (2002) 203 CLR 172 Whitby v ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1934 Wotton v State of Queensland (No 5) (2015) 352 ALR 146 Zuijs v Wirth Bros Pty Ltd (1955) 93 CLR 561
Date of hearing:	14 March 2019
Registry:	Victoria
Division:	Fair Work
National Practice Area:	Employment & Industrial Relations
Category:	Catchwords
Number of paragraphs:	133
Counsel for the Appellant:	Mr M Irving QC
Solicitor for the Appellant:	Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
Counsel for the Respondent:	Mr B Shaw
Solicitor for the Respondent:	Dwyer & Co Legal

ORDERS

		VID 1136 of 2018
BETWEEN:	CHRISTOPHER JOHN PALFRAMAN Appellant
AND:	CULTURAL INFUSION (INT) PTY LTD Respondent

JUDGE:	WHEELAHAN J
DATE OF ORDER:	19 march 2020

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The appeal be dismissed.

2. If any order for costs is sought by a party, that party shall file and serve written submissions in relation to costs not exceeding three pages by 4.00pm on Thursday, 26 March 2020, with any responding submissions to be filed by 4.00pm on Thursday 2 April 2020.

3. If no submissions seeking costs are filed by 4.00pm on Thursday, 26 March 2020, there be no order as to costs.

Note: Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.

ORDERS

		VID 1130 of 2018
BETWEEN:	SOREN JENSEN Appellant
AND...