Re Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; Ex parte Graham [1977] HCA 20

Re Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission; Ex parte Graham [1977] HCA 20

The Commission had jurisdiction to make and vary the interim awards, including as to non-union employees; the awards were within the ambit of the dispute as extended by the union's and companies' demands and correspondence; applicant’s grounds for prohibition (including alleged procedural defects and alleged excess of jurisdiction) fail.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Procedural Posture
Application for Prohibition / Return of Order Nisi
Outcome
Order nisi discharged
Legal Topics
['industrial Disputes' 'awards' 'federal Vs State Jurisdiction' 'union Membership' 'interim Awards' 'scope of Commission Powers']

Case Brief

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Procedural Posture

Application for Prohibition / Return of Order Nisi

  1. 1 ['Did the Commission have jurisdiction to make and vary interim awards in the disputes between unions and oil companies?' 'Were the interim awards beyond the ambit of the dispute?' 'Validity of union preference clause (clause 41) in interim award' 'Whether the Commission exceeded its powers by making awards regarding non-union employees']

Ratio Decidendi

The Commission had jurisdiction to make and vary the interim awards, including as to non-union employees; the awards were within the ambit of the dispute as extended by the union's and companies' demands and correspondence; applicant’s grounds for prohibition (including alleged procedural defects and alleged excess of jurisdiction) fail.

Court Disposition

Order nisi discharged

Orders

  • ['Order nisi discharged']