Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union [1985] FCA 356

Mudginberri Station Pty Ltd v Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union [1985] FCA 356

The evidence establishes the respondents engaged in a secondary boycott by organising and maintaining a picket line which had the effect and purpose of preventing or hindering the applicant's business operations, in breach of s.45D(1) Trade Practices Act 1974. The dominant purpose of the conduct was not related to...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Applicant: Mudginberri Station Pty. Limited; First Respondent: The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union; Second Respondent: Jack O'Toole; Third Respondent: Trevor Surplice; Fourth Respondent: Dick Annear; Fifth Respondent: Pat Roughan; Sixth Respondent: Meat Inspectors Association; Seventh Respondent: Gordon McColl; Eighth Respondent: Alex Thompson
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
12 July 1985
Procedural Posture
Application for Injunction Under Trade Practices Act / Final Orders and Reasons for Judgment
Outcome
Injunction granted. Damages claim stood over.
Legal Topics
Secondary Boycott, Industrial Action, Injunction, Section 45 D Trade Practices Act
Trade Practices Industrial Law Secondary Boycott Industrial Action Injunction Section 45 D Trade Practices Act

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Parties

Mudginberri Station Pty. Limited

Applicant

The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union

First Respondent

Jack O'Toole

Second Respondent

Trevor Surplice

Third Respondent

Dick Annear

Fourth Respondent

Pat Roughan

Fifth Respondent

Meat Inspectors Association

Sixth Respondent

Gordon McColl

Seventh Respondent

Alex Thompson

Eighth Respondent

Procedural Posture

Application for Injunction Under Trade Practices Act / Final Orders and Reasons for Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the respondents contravened s.45D of the Trade Practices Act 1974 by organising and maintaining a picket line (secondary boycott) at the applicant's abattoir
  2. 2 Whether the respondents are protected by the exception in s.45D(3) of the Act

Ratio Decidendi

The evidence establishes the respondents engaged in a secondary boycott by organising and maintaining a picket line which had the effect and purpose of preventing or hindering the applicant's business operations, in breach of s.45D(1) Trade Practices Act 1974. The dominant purpose of the conduct was not related to the remuneration or employment conditions of the applicant's employees, and the respondents did not bring themselves within the exception in s.45D(3). The applicant is entitled to injunctive relief.

Court Disposition

Injunction granted. Damages claim stood over.

Orders

  • The first, second, third, fourth and fifth respondents restrained from imposing, maintaining, enforcing any ban or picket line at the Mudginberri Abattoirs which would hinder the applicant’s business operations.
  • The first, second, third, fourth and fifth respondents restrained from aiding, abetting, procuring, inducing, conspiring with any persons to engage in the above conduct.