Contempt of court case brought by Fair Work Ombudsman results in imposition of jail term

A Queensland-based tour operator has been sentenced to 12 month imprisonment and fined over $84,000 in the first contempt of court case brought by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).

The tour operator contravened freezing orders by transferring funds from the company’s accounts into a family trust account.

The freezing orders prevented any dispersion of the company’s assets until such time as it complied with penalty and back payment orders resulting from the FWO taking legal action against it for underpaying temporary migrant workers.

This is the first time a custodial prison sentence has been imposed as a result of the FWO’s actions and is a positive indication that the rights of workers in Australia are well protected under the FWO and that where and employer seeks to cheat workers of their entitlements, there may be very serious consequences to follow.

If you have any concerns in relation to your workplace issues, please contact Workers First and the Australian Prison Officers Association (APOA) and JOIN NOW.

Read more about this case HERE.