Frustration as $10m still owing to NT public servants for holiday pay error

A single mum who could be owed thousands by the Territory government says she is still in the dark about when it will be paid. In the meantime she’s struggling to cover the essentials.

Former RDH worker Emily Bannister, with children Rune and Dolly, is one of thousands forced to wait months for back-pay owed by the Northern Territory government. Picture: Supplied.

A single mum who could be owed thousands by the Northern Territory government says it is “frustrating” not knowing when the money will be paid, while she meanwhile struggles to cover the essentials.

In January it was revealed the government had to pay $21.6m to thousands of public servants due to an error in how public holiday entitlements had been calculated.

As of this week, almost half of that is yet to be delivered to the thousands of workers owed – most of them healthcare workers.

Sonographer Emily Bannister is one of them, estimating she may receive up to $10,000 from her time working at the Royal Darwin Hospital between 2012 and 2021.

“I’m in the dark – still waiting for my back-pay with no idea how long it will be,” she said.

“It’s frustrating because they underpaid, it was their mistake, and I doubt they’re going to pay us interest. But if we were ever overpaid we had to pay it back immediately.”

Ms Bannister, who now lives in Melbourne with her children Rune and Dolly, said the money would make a big difference amid cost of living pressures.

“I’m sitting here with no money at the end of every fortnight, struggling, when I could have $5000 or $10,000 in a buffer account to help me with groceries, or if the kids needed to go to the dentist,” she said.

Former RDH worker Emily Bannister, with children Rune and Dolly, is one of thousands forced to wait months for back-pay owed by the Northern Territory government. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Bannister said she called for an update on the payment processing last month and was told “a couple of weeks”, but when she pressed the person on the phone admitted “it could be months”.

“Why would you make that promise to someone who needs money, if it’s not true?” she said.

“It’s hard for me to plan … at this point I am expecting it could be a long time away.”

The Department of Corporate and Digital Development said about $10m remained outstanding.

A total of 4293 current and former employees were owed back-pay for the issue dating back to 2013.

So far all 1600 current employees have been paid, along with 550 former employees – meaning more than 2000 are still waiting.

The department said it was continuing to contact and work with former employees to progress the back-pays, and timing of remediation was dependent on communication with former employees to verify identities.

“Remaining payments will be scheduled once contact has been made and verification is confirmed,” a spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Frustration as $10m still owing to NT public servants for holiday pay error