Tabitha was called to the bar in 2024. Prior to this, she was a Senior Associate at Ashurst, where she primarily practised in employment law, discrimination and WHS.
Tabitha was included in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in Australia for her work in employment law.
Areas of practice:
·      Employment law
·      Discrimination
·      WHS
·      Criminal law
·      Family law
·      Administrative law
·      Inquests and inquiries
·      Disciplinary proceedings
·      Commercial disputes
·      Appellate
Selected cases:
Employment law and discrimination
Fair Work Commission (Full Bench): Appeal regarding a jurisdictional objection (award coverage) under the Fair Work Actfor a coal mining company. Instructed by Ashurst, led by Bilal Rauf.
Federal Circuit and Family Court: Contravention of the Fair Work Act and breach of contract proceedings for a renewable energy company and individual respondents. Instructed by Herbert Smith Freehills, led by Holly Blattman KC.
Fair Work Commission: Jurisdictional objection proceedings (dismissal) under the Fair Work Act for a social/disability services company. Instructed by Colin Biggers & Paisley, unled.
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission: Sexual harassment proceedings under the Anti-Discrimination Act for an individual. Instructed by Basic Rights Queensland, unled.
Federal Circuit and Family Court: Contravention of the Fair Work Act (general protections) proceedings for multiple former employees of the same employer. Instructed by Demarco Law, unled.
Criminal, family and administrative law
Supreme Court: Applications for bail in cases involving attempted murder and other violent offences, including matters intersecting with the Mental Health Act.
Various courts: Represented clients in sentencing matters under the Penalties and Sentences Act and the Youth Justice Actinvolving a broad range of criminal offences.
Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1): Application for final parenting and international relocation orders under the Family Law Act for the respondent father.
Federal Circuit and Family Court: Appeal under the Migration Act involving the denial of a subclass 790 visa for the applicant. Instructed by DWF, led by Matthew Jones KC
Selected solicitor experience:
Extensive experience advising on the full spectrum of employment law issues, including interpretation of industrial instruments, underpayments/entitlements, conduct and performance, termination, redundancy, investigations, industrial disputes, bargaining and discrimination.
Industrial Magistrates Court: Prosecution under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act involving a worker’s death. Acted for the coal mine operator and site senior executive.
Federal Court (and Full Court, on appeal): Contravention of the Fair Work Act (general protections), underpayment and breach of contract proceedings. Acted for the employee.
Fair Work Commission: Enterprise agreement dispute under the Fair Work Act regarding disciplinary action (involving underground ignition safety breaches) for a coal mining client.
Fair Work Commission: Application for orders to stop bullying under the Fair Work Act for a social enterprise company and senior managers.
Australian Human Rights Commission: Discrimination proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Act for a coal mining company.
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal: Professional disciplinary proceedings under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act for a teacher.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal: Appeal proceedings under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act concerning NDIS plan funding. Acted for the NDIS.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal: Appeal of a passport denial decision under the Australian Passports Act. Acted for the applicant.