Employment & Industrial Relations
About this NPA
The Employment and Industrial Relations National Practice Area (NPA) comprises of civil and criminal matters arising under the Fair Work jurisdiction and related legislation including:
- workplace-related applications
- writs of mandamus or prohibition
- injunctions
- declarations
- prosecutions
- matters transferred or appealed from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, other Courts or the Fair Work Commission.
Latest Judgments
- 5 Oct 2026:
Colgrave v TT-Line Company Pty Ltd (Costs) [2026] FCA 1462
COSTS – application for indemnity costs – where applicant succeeded on appeal from decision of Administrative Review Tribunal – whether respondent persisted in hopeless case – where applicant made offer to compromise under Pt 25 of the Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth) prior to hearing of appeal – where applicant obtained more favourable judgment –…
Judge: HORAN J - 18 Sep 2026:
Alexiou v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited [2026] FCA 1373
INDUSTRIAL LAW – adverse action – where events occurred against backdrop of a regulatory investigation into rigging of the bank bill swap rate – where applicant had been stood down, his standing down had been reported by the press, his employment was terminated and his bonuses clawed back or forfeited – where action alleged to have been taken…
Judge: PERRAM J - 2 Oct 2026:
Fair Work Ombudsman v Chambers [2026] FCA 1452
INDUSTRIAL LAW – sham contracting – various contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) alleged – where respondents directors of company – where Fair Work Ombudsman alleged company engaged cleaning workers as employees – whether company was engaging entity – applicable test for determining engaging entity following WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato…
Judge: MEAGHER J
Practice Notes
- Central Practice Note (CPN-1)
- Employment and Industrial Relations Practice Note (E&IR-1)
Form & Rules
The key forms and rules for commencing proceedings are:
- Commencing an originating application alleging dismissal in contravention of a general protection proceeding:
| Forms: |
|
| Rules: |
|
- Commencing application for a writ of mandamus, prohibition or injunction under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) must file:
| Forms: |
|
| Rules: |
|
Legislation
- Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth)
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
- Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth)
- Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
Subscribe
To stay up-to-date with news in the Federal Court, including developments in this NPA, subscribe to our email subscription services.
We provide subscriptions to the latest judgments and events (by NPA); Practice News to keep up-to-date with changes to practice and procedure; and Daily Court Listings.
