Defunct Toowoomba business Queensland Made fails to pay almost $40k in wages

A group of young Toowoomba workers were forced to go to workplace regulators after their boss short-changed them nearly $40,000.

Former woodworking business owner Brenton Gietzel will be forced to pay approximately $38,000 in unpaid wages alongside high penalties after the Federal Circuit and Family Court ruled he had breached pay slip laws and failed to obey the regulator’s compliance notices. Picture: Warren Lynam

A Toowoomba man has been penalised for underpaying his young workers, leaving them tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Former business owner Brenton Gietzel will be forced to pay approximately $38,000 in unpaid wages alongside high penalties after the Federal Circuit and Family Court ruled he had breached pay slip laws and failed to obey the regulator’s compliance notices.

Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman brought legal action upon the sole trader of the now defunct woodworking business Queensland Made after receiving complaints from four young workers – three of whom were aged between 19 and 22.

The court ruled Gietzel would need to calculate and rectify any underpayments to his workers, including any interest and superannuation that would have accrued – roughly equating $38,000.

He was additionally ordered to pay $11,000 in penalties on top of the workers’ back pay.

During its operation, Queensland Made manufactured and sold wooden furniture in and around the Toowoomba and southern Queensland region.

Gietzel owned and operated the business, which has since stopped trading, during the period of noncompliance.

The four workers were employed as a full-time apprentice, casual cabinet maker, labourer and joiner assistant during various periods between January 2022 and October 2023.

In 2023, a Fair Work inspector issued Gietzel two compliance notices for underpaying each of the worker’s minimum wages, legally owed to them under the Timber Industry Award 2020.

It was also believed that the apprentice was further underpaid their public holiday, personal leave and annual leave entitlements.

“When compliance notices are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure

workers receive their lawful entitlements,” Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said.

“Employers also need to be aware that taking action to protect young workers, which can

often include apprentices, is among our top priorities.

“Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact the Fair Work

Ombudsman for free assistance.”