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FWCFair Work Commission · 2026

the Applicant v Dhulawang Aboriginal Corporation & Ms Dungay and Others

Citation: [2026] FWC 1628

What happened

the Applicant brought a general protections application against Dhulawang Aboriginal Corporation and Ms Dungay. the Applicant alleged she was dismissed. The Fair Work Commission considered whether her application was filed within the required time limit. Deputy President Saunders also considered whether exceptional circumstances warranted an extension of time.

What was decided

Deputy President Saunders considered whether the Applicant’s application was filed within the 21-day time limit for general protections claims. The decision notes that the Commission would consider whether exceptional circumstances would justify an extension of time, if needed. The full reasoning is not detailed in the provided text.

What it means for employers

Employers should be aware of the strict time limits for filing general protections applications. They should also be prepared to address arguments about exceptional circumstances that might warrant an extension of time.

What it means for employees

Employees should be aware of the 21-day time limit for filing general protections applications. If an employee believes they have a claim but may have missed the deadline, they should seek legal advice promptly to explore whether exceptional circumstances might apply.

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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/2026fwc1628.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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