TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
Fair Work Act 2009

VICE PRESIDENT HATCHER

AM2016/13

s.156 - 4 yearly review of modern awards

Four yearly review of modern awards

(AM2016/13)

Legal Services Award 2020

Sydney

10.00 AM, WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2022

Continued from 09/02/2022

PN1

THE ASSOCIATE:  Vice President, can I confirm you can hear me?

PN2

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes, I can.

PN3

All right.  So Mr Ferguson, for the AI Group, you're the only appearance, I think.

PN4

MR B FERGUSON:  Yes, your Honour.

PN5

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.

PN6

Well, look, I've called this matter back on because there are a few outstanding matters from the annualised salaries common issue matter from the four-yearly review.

PN7

They were unofficially deferred, once the COVID pandemic hit, and I'm now trying to finalise them.

PN8

MR FERGUSON:  Yes.

PN9

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  In respect of the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the decision of 23 December 2019, there was an outstanding issue identified.

PN10

MR FERGUSON:  Yes.

PN11

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And subsequently, we received submissions on that issue from your organisation, Mr Ferguson, and also from the HSU.

PN12

The only purpose of this directions hearing is to inquire, given that the Bench intends to finalise the matter, whether, with the passage of time and any changed circumstances, anybody would like to update their submissions or make further submissions, before we determine the matter.

PN13

MR FERGUSON:  Yes.

PN14

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Or, alternatively, we can simply decide the matter on the basis of the submissions filed today.

PN15

MR FERGUSON:  Yes.  Yes.  Your Honour, if I could just have a short period of time to seek some instructions on that, and then advise chambers?  I apologise for not being in a position to do this morning, but I could attend to that fairly quickly, in the matter of a couple of days, your Honour.

PN16

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.

PN17

Well, in the event that you do want to take advantage of that opportunity, how long might you think you would need?

PN18

MR FERGUSON:  I don't envisage we'd require more than, say, a week and a half.  I'm just conscious that I have another matter, as your Honour knows consuming the first half of next week.

PN19

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Well, if I simply made a direction that any submissions be filed within 21 days of today's date, would that be sufficient?

PN20

MR FERGUSON:  Yes, that would certainly suffice, your Honour.

PN21

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.

PN22

Well, a direction will be made to that effect, and will be issued later today.

PN23

Thank you for your attendance, Mr Ferguson, I'll now adjourn.

PN24

MR FERGUSON:  Thank you, your Honour.

ADJOURNED INDEFINITELY                                                [10.11 AM]