Enco Precast Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union & Ors

[2022] QCA 94

Queensland Court of Appeal

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Interrogate

Catchwords

1. Industrial Law (Qld)
2. › Work health and safety
3. › Right of entry
4. › WHS entry permits
5. › Dispute about exercise of right of entry
6. › Whether permits invalid because no relevant workers at workplace
7. › Whether applicant seeking declaration of invalidity bore legal burden of proof
8. › Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), ss 116, 117, 134, 142, 144(2)
1. Evidence
2. › Burden of proof
3. › Legal burden
4. › Party invoking jurisdiction to make orders bears burden of proving facts justifying those orders
5. › Distinction between legal burden and evidential burden
6. › Whether evidential burden provision in criminal context (s 144(2)) applicable to civil proceedings under s 142
1. Industrial Law (Qld)
2. › Trade unions
3. › Eligibility for membership
4. › Construction of union eligibility rules
5. › Whether workers engaged in preparation or erection of terrazzo or similar compositions
6. › Whether court should determine issue unnecessary to disposition of appeal

Quick Take

In disputes under s 142 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) about the exercise of a right of entry, the party seeking orders (whether employer or union) bears the legal burden of proving the facts necessary to justify those orders. The evidential burden provision in s 144(2) applies only to criminal prosecutions for refusing entry and does not shift or affect the legal burden in civil proceedings under s 142.