Ms Laura Curtin v Dhulawang Aboriginal Corporation & Ms Cynthia Dungay and Others
Citation: [2026] FWC 1628
What happened
Laura Curtin brought a general protections application against Dhulawang Aboriginal Corporation and Cynthia Dungay. Ms Curtin alleged she was dismissed. The Fair Work Commission considered whether her application was filed within the required time limit. The Deputy President, Saunders DP, also considered whether exceptional circumstances warranted an extension of time.
What was decided
Deputy President Saunders considered whether Ms Curtin’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.
Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/document-view/decisions/ms-laura-curtin-v-dhulawang-aboriginal-corporation-ms-cynthia-dungay-andWant more cases like this?
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This summary was drafted by AI 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 →