Application by the Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees [2026] QIRC 204

QUEENSLAND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION CITATION: Application by the Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees [2026] QIRC 204 PARTIES: Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees (Applicant) CASE NO: RIO/2026/67 PROCEEDING: Application for deregistration DELIVERED ON: 18 June 2026 HEARING DATE: 18 June 2026 MEMBERS: HEARD AT: O'Connor VP Knight IC McLennan IC Brisbane ORDER: 1. That the Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees is deregistered. CATCHWORDS: INDUSTRIAL LAW – QUEENSLAND – INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS – DEREGISTRATION OF AN ORGANISATION – where the applicant union sought deregistration orders – whether all necessary requirements had been met for deregistration. LEGISLATION: Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld) s 878 APPEARANCES: Mr J. Payne for the Applicant. -- 1 of 5 -- 2 Reasons for Decision [1] The Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees (‘FSUQ’) has filed an application pursuant to s 878 of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld) (‘IR Act’) for an order deregistering that union. The application is made pursuant to s 878(d)(iv) of the IR Act which provides: 878 General deregistration grounds The full bench may order the deregistration of an organisation (a deregistration order) on any of the following grounds – … (d) the organisation’s rules – … (iv) provide for the organisation to end on the happening of an event and the event has happened; … [2] Relevantly, r 47 of the FSUQ Rules (‘FSUQ Rules’) provides as follows: 47 Ending of Union 47.1. without limitation to rule 48, the registration of the Union will end 12 months following: 47.1.1. restructuring, by amendment, of the rules of the Finance Sector Union of Australia, the counterpart Federal Body, to remove state based local Executive Committees and state based Sections; and 47.1.2. declaration of elections for the FSU subsequent to the restructuring under 47.1.1 (for this rule the 'Event'). 47.2. The Executive President and the Secretary are on the happening of the Event, authorised to determine to make application to the Queensland Industrial Relation Commission for the deregistration of the Union. 47.3. The Secretary is required, within 21 days of the making of a determination under sub-rule 47.2, to notify the members of the Union that an application is being made for deregistration of the Union. 47.4. The notification under subrule 47.3 may be made by: 47.4.1. email; 47.4.2. SMS; 47.4.3. newsletter; 47.4.4. by notice on a website used to communicate with members of the Union; or -- 2 of 5 -- 3 47.4.5. a combination of the means set out in paragraphs 47.4.1 - 47.4.4. 47.5. The Secretary will ensure that the accounts of the Union are audited prior to the application for deregistration being made. 47.6. Surplus assets (if any) following the meeting of the liabilities of the Union (if any) are to be paid by the Secretary to the Finance Sector Union of Australia. [3] The counterpart federal body of the FSUQ is the Finance Sector Union of Australia (‘FSU’) [4] Relevant to this application is the amendment of the rules of the FSU (‘FSU Rules’) which were certified on 24 October 2022. The effect of those amendments was to completely restructure the FSU so that it no longer operated on a structure based on State or Territory enterprise councils or national enterprise councils drawing regional representation. As a result of that restructure there was no reference to sections based on geographical location. In particular, there were no sections based in Queensland. [5] The Full Bench was advised that the way in which the governance arrangements of the FSU now operate is to elect delegates to a National Congress. Delegates to the National Congress are drawn from cohorts having a particular attribute as for example a member's employer or occupation. National Officers are then elected by, and from, the college formed by the National Congress. [6] Having regard to the FSUQ Rules, the Full Bench notes that: (a) in relation to sub-rule 47.1.1. restructure by amendment to the rules of the FSU to remove state based local Executive Committees and state-based Sections has occurred; (b) in relation to sub-rule 47.1.2, subsequent to the Restructure, the declaration of the elections of the FSU has occurred under sub-rule 47.1.2; and (c) sub-rules 47.1.1 and 47.1.2 describe actions that taken together are ‘the event' referred to in rule 47.1 (the Event). As those actions have occurred, the Event has occurred. [7] The Executive President and Secretary have in accordance with r 47.2 determined, due to the occurrence of the Event, that an application to the Commission be made to de- register the FSUQ. [8] On 17 March 2026 the Executive held a meeting to discuss the determination to deregister the FSUQ and resolved unanimously to do so. -- 3 of 5 -- 4 [9] The Full Bench granted leave for the Applicant to read and file a further affidavit of Wendy Anne Streets affirmed on 18 June 2026. [10] In that affidavit, Ms Streets deposes that on 23 March 2026 a notice was emailed to members of the FSUQ and a notice placed on the FSU website to advise members of the hearing of this application. A further notice to the same effect was emailed to members and placed on the FSU website on 11 June 2026. [11] According to the statistical records of the FSUQ, the email notice of 23 March 2026 was successfully delivered to 2,177 members representing 86.1% of the FSUQ membership on their membership record. The notice emailed on 11 June 2026 was successfully delivered to 2,282 members, being 86.5% of the FSUQ membership with an email address on their membership record. [12] The Full Bench would commend the FSUQ for its diligence and thoroughness in ensuring its members were fully informed of the application to deregister the union. [13] The Full Bench notes that the FSUQ is one of the oldest registered industrial organisations in Queensland. [14] The records of the Commission record that on 13 September 1919, the United Bank Officers Association of Queensland Union of Employees was registered under the Industrial Arbitration Act of 1916 as an Industrial Union of Employees. The name of the union has had various iterations over the years finally settling on the current name Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees on 14 December 1999. [15] It is always a matter of regret when long standing industrial organisations seek and obtain deregistration in this jurisdiction. It reflects the changes brought about by the passing of the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005. As we know that legislation changed forever the industrial landscape in Queensland. The jurisdiction remaining under the IR Act mostly concerns industrial relations for the public sector, local government and other State responsibilities with the whole of the private sector becoming subject to the national system. [16] Having read the application filed in the Industrial Registry on 1 April 2026; the affidavit of Wendy Anne Streets affirmed on 30 March 2026; the further affidavit of Wendy Anne Streets affirmed on 18 June 2026; and after hearing the submissions of Mr John Payne on behalf of the Applicant, the Full Bench is satisfied that all necessary procedural requirements have been met to seek deregistration in accordance with its Rules and the IR Act. [17] No incidental orders are sought. -- 4 of 5 -- 5 [18] Accordingly, the Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees (FSUQ) is deregistered. [19] The Full Bench makes the following order: Order 1. That the Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees is deregistered. -- 5 of 5 --