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FWCFair Work Commission · 2025

the Applicant v The Trustee For The Dobinson Family Trust

Citation: [2025] FWC 1666

What happened

the Applicant sought an extension of time to deal with contraventions involving a dismissal. The Fair Work Commission considered whether there were exceptional circumstances to justify the extension. Deputy President Dean and Deputy President heard the case. The decision does not detail the nature of the contraventions or the dismissal itself.

What was decided

The Fair Work Commission refused to grant an extension of time. The Commission found there were no exceptional circumstances to warrant extending the deadline. The decision states, 'there is no basis for extending the time limit'.

What it means for employers

Employers should be aware of strict time limits for lodging applications to deal with contraventions. Exceptional circumstances are required to justify extensions, and these are rarely granted.

What it means for employees

Employees need to be mindful of deadlines when making applications to the Fair Work Commission. If you believe you need more time, seek legal advice promptly to assess if exceptional circumstances exist.

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Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:

https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/pdf/2025fwc1666.pdf

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This summary was drafted from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →

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