[2015] FWCFB 5357
FAIR WORK COMMISSION

STATEMENT AND REVISED DIRECTIONS



Fair Work Act 2009

s.156—4 yearly review of modern awards

4 yearly review of modern awards—Penalty rates
(AM2014/305)

JUSTICE ROSS, PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI
DEPUTY PRESIDENT ASBURY
COMMISSIONER HAMPTON
COMMISSIONER LEE

MELBOURNE, 7 AUGUST 2015

4 yearly review of modern awards – penalty rates – revised final directions.

[1] The purpose of this statement is to provide further information about the scheduling of various proposals to vary penalty rates in a number of awards as part of the 4 yearly review of modern awards. A Statement and agreed directions in this matter were issued on 3 March 2015 following extensive consultation.

[2] On 24 July 2015 correspondence was received from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association and United Voice (jointly ‘the Unions’) seeking significant variations to the directions issued on 3 March 2015. The Unions note that some of the Employer parties had not complied with the directions, in that two of the statements from expert witnesses were filed one week late, and they expressed concern that there would be insufficient time to deal with all expert and hospitality evidence during the 14 sitting days scheduled in September. Among other changes, the alternative directions proposed by the Unions are:

[3] A mention was held at 9.00 am on Wednesday 5 August 2015 in relation to the scheduling for the hearings of the expert and hospitality evidence listed for 8 to 25 September 2015. The mention dealt with the correspondence referred to at paragraph 2 above; the sequence of witnesses and the venue for the hearings scheduled for 8 to 25 September 2015; the process for dealing with any objections to the evidence filed; and various requests for the production of certain documents. Following the mention correspondence was received from a number of parties dealing with their availability and the availability of their witnesses. The transcript of the mention hearing and all of the correspondence is available on the Commission’s website.

[4] We have had regard to the views expressed by all interested parties. It is apparent on the material before us that the 14 days presently allocated for hearing the expert evidence and the hospitality lay evidence (8 to 25 September 2015 inclusive) may not be sufficient. On present indications there will be 16 expert witnesses and in excess of 80 lay witnesses. We also note that some of the employer parties did not comply with the directions in relation to the filing of their expert evidence – two of the four expert witness statements were filed one week late. This non-compliance with directions requires some amendment to the directions issued on 3 March 2015 to ensure that other parties are not disadvantaged.

[5] We have decided to adopt a cautious approach to the revision of the existing directions given the inherent difficulties in estimating the time required to deal with witness evidence. We will further review the directions as the case progresses. The effect of the revised directions we propose to make now is as follows:

[6] Revised directions are now attached.

[7] As mentioned in the Statement issued on 3 March 2015, it is important that all parties comply with the various deadlines for filing material set out in the directions.

PRESIDENT

Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer

<Price code C, PR570470>

 

REVISED DIRECTIONS


Fair Work Act 2009
s.156—4 yearly review of modern awards

4 yearly review of modern awards—Penalty rates
(AM2014/305)

JUSTICE ROSS, PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT CATANZARITI
DEPUTY PRESIDENT ASBURY
COMMISSIONER HAMPTON
COMMISSIONER LEE

MELBOURNE, 7 AUGUST 2015

It is directed that:

The following revisions are made to the directions issued on 3 March 2015 ([2015] FWC 1482):

ATTACHMENT A—Timetable by subject (7 August 2015)

Common

 

4 September 2015

Expert evidence—Closing date for filing expert evidence and common material—union parties

4 Sep 2015

Closing date for filing specific findings sought based on expert evidence and the proposed findings sought based on common material or survey evidence filed—all parties

8 Sep 2015

Expert evidence—Closing date for filing of any objection to any of the expert evidence—all parties

16 Sep 2015

Expert evidence—Closing date for reply evidence from employer experts

17 Sep 2015

Hearing of any objections to the expert evidence

21–25 Sep 2015

Hearing of Expert evidence if dates available

28 Sep–2 Oct 2015

4, 5 and 6 Nov 2015

Expert evidence—hearing dates tentatively reserved

Hospitality

 

10 August 2015

Hospitality evidence—Closing date for filing evidence and outline of submissions and the findings they submit the Commission should make based on the hospitality evidence to be filed—union parties

17 Aug 2015

Hospitality—United Voice and any other parties are to file their notices to produce in respect of the lay hospitality witnesses.

21 Aug 2015

Hospitality – Hearing in relation to objections to any notices to produce filed

27 Aug 2015

Hospitality—Further mention—to deal with matters relating to the hearing scheduled 8–25 September

28 Aug 2015

Hospitality—Closing date for filing of any objections by any part to lay hospitality evidence—all parties

8 Sep 2015

Hearing of any objections to the lay hospitality evidence

8–25 Sep 2015

Hospitality—Evidentiary hearing lay witness (expert evidence may be called depending on period required for lay evidence)

14 Oct 2015

Hospitality—Closing date for filing final submissions—employer parties

25 Nov 2015

Hospitality—Closing date for filing final submissions—union parties

2 Dec 2015

Hospitality—Closing date for filing submissions in reply—employer parties

14–18 Dec 2015

Hospitality & Retail—Final hearings

Retail

 

10 August 2015

Retail evidence—Closing date for filing evidence and outline of submissions and the findings they submit the Commission should make based on the retail evidence to be filed—employer parties

5 Oct 2015

Retail evidence—Closing date for filing evidence and outline of submissions and the findings they submit the Commission should make based on the retail evidence to be filed—union parties

12–30 Oct 2015

Retail—Evidentiary hearing

9 Nov 2015

Retail—Closing date for filing final submissions—employer parties

2 Dec 2015

Retail—Closing date for filing final submissions—union parties

9 Dec 2015

Retail—Closing date for filing final submissions—employer parties

14–18 Dec 2015

Hospitality & Retail—Final hearings