News

High Court confirms redundancy requirements and obligations

The High Court has handed down a judgement specifying the obligations in relation to redundancies in Helensburgh Coal Pty Ltd v Bartley [2025] HCA 29. Background Helensburgh Coal restructured operations following a decrease in demand in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic. This resulted in a reduction in contractors and the number of employees reducing by 90, including 47 redundancies.…
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Qantas ordered to pay a $90 million fine for outsourcing jobs

On 18 August 2025, the Federal Court ordered Qantas airlines to pay a $90 million fine for making an unlawful decision to outsource jobs in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the largest and most significant contravention of the general protections of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) or its predecessor. On 30 November 2020, Qantas CEO, Paul…
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Contractor deemed to be an employee

Cropper v Energy Action (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2025] FCA 663 found that a contractor working for Energy Action, has actually been an employee for over 14 years. Background Mr Cropper, after many years working as an analyst, commenced freelance work and set up an ABN and commenced work for various clients. Cropper had a chance encounter with a…
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Dismissal for political opinion results in successful unlawful termination claim

The Federal Court of Australia has handed down a decision in Lattouf v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 2) [2025] FCA 669, an unlawful termination application by Antionette Lattouf, confirming that the Australian Broadcasting Association (ABC) breached the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) by dismissing Lattouf for expressing political opinions. Background Lattouf made various social media posts with her views on…
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Directions in accordance with employment contracts: When are they lawful?

It has always been a question of when a direction by an employer in accordance with an employment contract will be lawful. The Fair Work Commission recently addressed this issue in Bertus Moers v The Trustee For Williamson Family Trust [2025] FWC 1344. Background Mr Moers raised concerns in relation to bullying, non-payment of bonus payments, unrealistic work and job…
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High Income Threshold and Superannuation Contributions increase set for 1 July 2025

The high-income threshold and maximum compensation thresholds are increasing from 1 July 2025. The high-income threshold is increasing from $175,000 to $183,100.   The maximum compensation for unfair dismissal claims will increase to $91,550 from 1 July 2025.   Employee’s seeking to challenge dismissals through unfair dismissal claims, or contractors lodging unfair deactivation or unfair contract terms applications will be…
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