Former Big Buoy water park operators to pay more than $30,000 in fines after underpaying worker
The former owners of an inflatable water park will be forced to pay thousands in penalties for failing to back-pay a worker.
Northern Territory
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THE former owners of the inflatable water park Big Buoy at The Waterfront will be forced to pay more than $30,000 in penalties for failing to back pay an employee.
The Federal Circuit Court has imposed a $25,200 penalty against D-Town Events Pty Ltd, which formerly traded as Big Buoy Waterpark.
A $5040 penalty against one of the company’s directors, Jarrod Berrington, was also issued by the court.
The Fair Work Ombudsman took on the case after an employee lodged a request for assistance.
The penalties were imposed in response to D-Town Events Pty Ltd breaching the Fair Work Act by failing to observe a compliance notice requiring the company to back-pay a worker.
Mr Berrington was involved in the breach.
The court has also ordered the company to calculate and back pay the worker’s outstanding entitlements and to pay superannuation and interest.
The affected worker was employed on a casual basis at Big Buoy Waterpark between May 2017 and June 2019.
Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said business operators that failed to act on compliance notices should be aware they could face court-imposed penalties on top of being ordered to back-pay workers.
“When compliance notices are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements,” she said.
“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance.”
A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice to D-Town Events in December 2019 after
forming a belief the
company had underpaid the worker’s minimum casual wages, Sunday and public holiday penalty rates, overtime and first aid allowance under the respective Award.
Employers and
employees can visit fairwork.gov.au or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for free advice and
assistance about their rights and obligations in the workplace.
A free interpreter service is available on 13 14 50.
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