Townsville worker fuming over claims he is owed $18k by shut Consolidated Tin Mines
Kirwan-based former miner Jason Domin is one of many unpaid workers fear they will not see a cent after a Far North Queensland mining company shut its operations.
Townsville
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Kirwan-based miner Jason Domin is one of many unpaid workers who fear they will not see a cent after a North Queensland mining company shut its operations.
Owners cited coronavirus as the cause of the closure but financial troubles preceded the pandemic by months.
Company director Ralph De Lacey said debts were owed but said the focus was on restarting operations and was resisting attempts by people trying to force the company into liquidation.
“This would be the worst outcome for the company in the current circumstances,” he said. “The best outcome for the company and creditors is to restart the mine and generate cash flow and jobs and pay off debts that are owed.”
The list of unpaid workers is long, and includes Mr Domin who claims he has not been paid wages or his redundancy package, and had received no superannuation contributions since November.
“No one has seen any money, basically. We haven’t been paid super since last year,” he said. Consolidated Tin Mines went into voluntary administration in 2016 with more than $50 million in debts.
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It was back in operation by the end of the year – but this history inspires little confidence in Mr Domin.
He said salaries came in late about Christmas last year, and again in January, with management blaming issues with overseas banking.
“In the end of 2019 there was a banking error and then there was one in 2018,” he said.
“I’ve been taking money out of my home loan.
“I’m lucky I wasn’t stupid and wasting my money. But that shouldn’t matter – I’m owed more than $18,000.”
Mr Domin received his first JobSeeker payment this week but still owes money on his house loan.
He contacted Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper, who has since been approached by a number of concerned Townsville workers who are allegedly owed money by Consolidated Tin Mines. Mr Harper said during the coronavirus crisis it was understandable some businesses were struggling but so too were workers.
“It’s important that all employers pay workers any entitlements they are owed,” he said. Mr Harper contacted Senator Nita Green who has now written to the company, demanding answers.
Originally published as Townsville worker fuming over claims he is owed $18k by shut Consolidated Tin Mines