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FWCFair Work Commission · 31 December 2025

Lara Summerville v Sydney Zoo Pty Ltd

Citation: [2026] FWC 1739

What happened

Lara Summerville commenced proceedings in the Fair Work Commission seeking an unfair dismissal remedy. The Fair Work Commission document indicates this was an application for an unfair dismissal remedy, and the application was refused. The document does not provide details about the circumstances of Ms. Summerville’s employment or the reasons for her dismissal, nor does it detail the nature of her role at Sydney Zoo Pty Ltd.

What was decided

The Fair Work Commission refused Ms. Summerville’s application for an extension of time and subsequently dismissed the application for an unfair dismissal remedy. The document states, 'Application for unfair dismissal remedy – extension of time – extension of time refused – application dismissed'.

What it means for employers

Employers should ensure they adhere to Fair Work Commission timelines for responding to applications and claims. Failure to do so can result in applications being refused.

What it means for employees

Employees seeking to make an unfair dismissal claim must be mindful of the time limits imposed by the Fair Work Act. Missing these deadlines can prevent a claim from being heard.

unfair-dismissalgeneral-protections

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

https://www.fwc.gov.au/document-view/decisions/lara-summerville-v-sydney-zoo-pty-ltd-2026-fwc-1739

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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 →

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