Australian Education Union threatened with huge fines over bungled internal elections
The general cecretary of the Queensland Teachers’ Union has “accepted responsibility” for a shocking administrative failure that left it staring down potential penalties more than $280,000.
The Queensland Teachers Union General Secretary Kate Ruttimann has issued an apology after it came to light the union was facing possible fines of more than $280,000 after the Fair Work Commission revealed it failed to file the paperwork for three major internal elections.
The Australian Education Union’s Queensland Branch did not lodge the required election documents for its Branch Council election in 2023 or its Branch Executive elections in 2023 and 2024, with none of those elections taking place.
The paperwork should have been filed in September and November 2023, and again in late 2024, according to the enforcement undertaking published by Fair Work Commission on November 28.
Instead, the union didn’t submit anything until May 26, 2025, more than 18 months’ late and only after repeated reminders from Commission staff stretching back to July 2023.
The Commission said the delays were so serious they could attract massive penalties totalling more than $280,000 with up to $93,900 for each of the two missed 2023 lodgements and up to $99,000 for the late 2024 paperwork.
Ms Ruttimann told the commission in submissions that she was unaware of the requests prior to meeting with staff on May 14 this year, a claim the commission noted with concern, saying union officials were expected to know when their own elections are due.
The branch accepted that the secretary was responsible for ensuring all election information is lodged on time, according to the published Fair Work documents.
The fines have not been formally imposed after the union signed an enforceable undertaking, a formal agreement to fix the mess.
The enforcement, signed by Fair Work Commission general manager Murray Furlong, requires the union to publish the undertaking, introduce stronger governance systems, train council members, and update branch rules so terms last three years.
AEU federal secretary Nicole Calnan also signed the undertaking, leaving it open for the AEU, rather than the AEU (Q), to wear any fines.
However, while the union is complying with the enforcement undertaking, the $280,000 fines are still a real threat.
If the union fails to meet its commitments or makes misleading statements, the Fair Work Commission can seek the full penalties.
The undertaking also bans the union from making any public comments that contradict the admissions it has now made.
In an email sent to members on Tuesday, Ms Ruttimann said she wanted to assure them she had “accepted responsibility for the matter” as it fell under her remit according to the rules.
“The issue has been investigated as detailed in the enforceable undertaking. For more than 20 years, detailed procedures have operated effectively,” Ms Ruttimann said.
“The strategies contained in the enforceable undertaking provided to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) will address the breakdown in our processes and ensure compliance. We are fully capable of implementing these requirements, and I do not believe fines or civil penalties will arise, despite some local media reporting.”
Ms Ruttimann said the incidents had “minimal impact” on the way the QTU has represented its members.
“Decisions on EB and other key issues have continued to be made by the properly elected and constituted QTU bodies — the QTU State Council, Executive, and Senior Officers,” Ms Ruttimann said.
“Nevertheless, this issue is significant and will be resolved through the strategies in the enforceable undertaking to ensure full compliance with both federal and state law.”
Education minister John-Paul Langbroek has been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Australian Education Union threatened with huge fines over bungled internal elections
