Julia Gelonese: Bondi Bar Upper East Side in court over alleged underpayments
An eastern suburbs entrepreneur and Instagram influencer has broken her silence after the Fairwork Ombudsman announced it is taking her to court over allegations the young model underpaid staff at her Bondi bar.
Wentworth Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The glamorous eastern suburbs socialite behind underpayment claims at a flashy Bondi Beach bar has spoken out after the Fairwork Ombudsman announced it is taking her to court.
Upper East Side Bondi Pty Ltd and director Julia Gelonese are set to face court over the claims they did not comply with two notices by the watchdog over allegedly failing to correctly backpay underpayments and superannuation to a number of staff.
If the court sides with the Ombudsman, the Instagram influencer is facing maximum fines of up to $12,600 while the company is in line for a potential maximum penalty of $63,000 if the allegations are proven for both.
But Gelonese claims she is being “thrown under the bus” by the Fairwork Ombudsman.
She said news of her facing fines of up to $12,600 if the allegations were proven was a surprise, claiming all the alleged underpayments had been finalised.
“It is not an easy industry to make a living in and being in Bondi is difficult given how seasonal it is,” she said.
“There are many businesses, even the giants, who are doing it tough ... (the Fairwork media release) can ruin businesses and this makes it even tougher because they are so quick to say ‘let’s throw them under the bus’.”
Ms Gelonese, who went to school at Daramalan College in Canberra, is the sister of Claudia Gelonese who spent a month in jail after pleading guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception.
The 26-year-old used thousands of dollars in ill-gotten money to help bankroll her dream harbourside wedding, complete with chauffeured Rolls Royces and a reception at Luna Park.
She is set to appeal the severity of the sentence this month.
The alleged underpayments allegedly came to light after Fair Work investigators received information from a number of front-of-house and kitchen staff, most of whom were on student or working holiday visas at the time.
Investigators will allege they believe some employees were not paid at all for periods of work.
The bar was the subject of a winding up order by Haverick Meats in the Supreme Court last October, according to financial records.
It was eventually dismissed in November last year.
According to a previous report, Ms Gelonese’s partner opened Upper East Side and she “instantly fell in love with everything about the restaurant industry” and has been working there ever since.
Often found frolicking at high society events in the eastern suburbs, Ms Gelonese’s social media is a litter of glamorous pictures depicting a luxurious lifestyle.
A directions hearing for the case has been listed in the Federal Circuit Court for April, with the regulator seeking a court order requiring the business to comply with compliance notices which include it rectifying the alleged underpayments in full plus superannuation and interest.
The restaurant appeared open this morning, with tables and chairs set up and music pumping through the sound system, though no customers had yet made their way into the establishment.
News tips? Email: anton.rose@news.com.au