Ombudsman takes Darwin water park worker’s ‘major’ underpayment claim to court

A FORMER Darwin water park operator has been accused of short-changing one of their workers in a major underpayment claim made to the workplace watchdog

The former Big Buoy Waterpark operator is accused of underpaying a worker and is being taken to court

A FORMER Darwin water park operator has been accused of short-changing one of its workers in a major underpayment claim made to the workplace watchdog.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleged the former operator of the Big Buoy Waterpark – which ceased operating earlier this year at the Darwin Waterfront – underpaid an employee minimum casual wages, Sunday and public holiday penalties and overtime from May 2017 and June 2019.

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The regulator alleges that the company, without reasonable excuse, failed to comply with a compliance notice that required it to calculate and back pay the worker’s entitlements.

D-Town Events Pty Ltd trading as Big Buoy Waterpark, and one of its directors, Jarrod Berrington, are now due to face Federal Circuit Court in Darwin over the matter on September 4 for a directions hearing.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said a court could order the business to pay penalties in addition to back-paying workers.

D-Town Events is facing a maximum penalty of $31,500, while Mr Berrington is facing a maximum penalty of $6300.

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“Where employers do not comply with FWO notices, we will take appropriate action to protect employees,” she said.

Ms Parker said the regulator would continue to enforce workplace laws in a proportionate manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NT News attempted to contact Big Buoy Waterpark for comment.

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