JM Kelly exec Elizabeth Murphy called worker chasing unpaid super a “real arse”, court hears

A worker who complained about unpaid superannuation was called a “real arse” in an email between executives of a Queensland building company which collapsed in 2018.

SUPER CRITICAL

A WORKER who complained to management at the teetering JM Kelly construction group about his unpaid super got called a “real arse” for his trouble.

The Federal Court heard Wednesday that JM Kelly Group, which collapsed last year owing $50 million, started receiving scores of complaints from workers in 2017 about unpaid super.

Barrister Craig Wilkins, who is representing liquidator Derrick Vickers of PwC, said that JM Kelly financial controller Elizabeth Murphy said one worker who complained was “turning into a real arse” in an email sent to her brother John Murphy, who was the director of the group.

Ms Murphy told the court that she could not recall the context of the email and that the worker “‘may have been an arse for other reasons.”

JM Kelly financial controller Elizabeth Murphy. Picture: AAP Image - Richard Waugh.

Mr Wilkins said that when another worker complained to the Australian Tax Office about unpaid super Ms Murphy told her brother that “we need to get rid of him.”

Mr Wilkins said that by 2018 the ATO was conducting several audits into the unpaid super, which totalled more than a million dollars.

The barrister told the court that in one email to her brother, Ms Murphy said that the company could not pay its Telstra bill let alone superannuation.

He alleged that the company’s practice was to partially pay some super due to workers who complained with John Murphy providing a colour coded list of employees who were likely to “whinge and those who were not.”

Ms Murphy told the court that an effort was made to pay all employees’ super but conceded it was several months behind in 2017 after several firms in the group had been earlier put into liquidation. The case continues.

LADIES TO THE RESCUE

THEY are probably best known to Brisbane folk for their scones, jam and cream tea at the Ekka year but the iconic Queensland Country Women’s Association also serves a vital role helping drought-stricken families in the bush.

In recognition of this, gas giant Santos has made a $80,000 donation to the QCWA to assist those hit by the big dry in the Maranoa region in south-west Queensland.

Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher.

Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher (illustrated) said the company had worked in partnership with local communities for 65 years to develop natural gas, so it was only right to lend a hand to those now struggling.

“We know farmers and rural communities are doing it tough with around 65 percent of Queensland and almost 100 percent of New South Wales in drought conditions that have been going on for more than two years,” Gallagher says. The QCWA’s Public Rural Crisis Fund supports families by providing grocery vouchers, store credit or helping pay overdue household bills.

BEER ME

AS Homer Simpson would say “beer good” so there is little excuse needed to crack open a cold one this Saturday, which just happens to be Australia’s inaugural Indie Beer Day. Organised by the Independent Brewers Association the day is to recognise the growing independent craft beer industry. More than 90 craft brewers have popped up in Queensland in recent years and the sector is now worth a massive $62 million.

Over at Newstead Brewery, the biggest of the bigger independents, we hear two great passions - beer and rugby - will collide on Saturday.

Darren Magin, Newstead’s brand and marketing manager, is a proud Pom so on Saturday will have one eye on the England v All Blacks Rugby World Cup semi-final in Japan.

Jo Menken raises a cheer for Newstead Brewery’s special edition Pink Can last year to raise money for breast cancer.

Meanwhile the rugby mad Howes family, who own Newstead Brewing, including Peter, Heather and son Mark, who is the company’s chief executive, are in Japan for the pointy end of the tournament.

Mark, a Wallabies fan, and Darren have been ribbing each other leading into the quarter finals - and of course, the old enemy dispatched Australia last weekend, so it was ‘Round 1 to Darren. Newstead Brewing are big supporters of local rugby, through their sponsorship of the National Rugby Cup (NRC), the Brisbane Premier Rugby competition Hospital Challenge Cup, and the QRU. Indie Beer Day culminates in a nationwide toast at 2pm