The Australian Labour Law Association and the Australian Association of Constitutional Law are proud to present:

Buying power: State procurement policies and labour standards

In two recent decisions (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v State of Victoria [2013] FCA 445 and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v McCorkell Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 446), the Federal Court found that Victoria procurement policies, which implemented the State’s industrial relations objectives, were in breach of the Fair Work Act’s general protection provisions. The Court found the Victorian government’s Construction Code and Implementation Guidelines amounted to adverse action and coercion. The cases consider the breadth of the general protection provisions in the Fair Work Act as well as constitutional questions around the protection afforded to the States in the federation and the extent of their executive power. In this seminar, leading industrial relations expert Rachel Doyle SC discusses the case and the intersections it raises between labour law and constitutional law.

Rachel Doyle SC

Rachel Doyle SC is a leading trial and appellate advocate. She has appeared in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Fair Work Australia, the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Federal Court, and the High Court of Australia. Rachel is also widely recognised as a specialist in Industrial and Discrimination Law. She is regularly briefed by individuals, unions, corporations, governments, and regulators (including the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Australian Building and Construction Commission, and WorkSafe). Before joining the Bar, Rachel was an associate to Sir Daryl Dawson of the High Court of Australia. While studying law at the Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide, she was employed by the South Australian Director of Public Prosecutions as a part time researcher and to appear in summary criminal trials and committals.

Date:            Monday, 21 October 2013

Time:           5:30pm – 7pm

Venue:        Moot Court, Ligertwood Building, University of Adelaide