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FWCFair Work Commission · 31 December 2025

the Applicant v Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC Ltd

Citation: [2026] FWC 2126

At a glance

Employees affected
1

What happened

the Applicant commenced employment with Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC Ltd on a maximum term contract. The contract specified an end date. the Applicant brought a general protections claim, alleging he was dismissed when the contract expired. The Fair Work Commission considered whether the employment ended because the contract term expired or if it was an adverse action.

What was decided

the Commissioner dismissed the Applicant’s application. The Commission found that the Applicant’s employment ended when the maximum term contract expired. It determined that the employment did not constitute a dismissal. The Commission also found that the anti-avoidance exception did not apply.

What it means for employers

Employers using fixed-term contracts should ensure the contract clearly states the end date and the conditions for termination. This helps avoid claims that the end of the contract was a disguised dismissal.

What it means for employees

Employees on fixed-term contracts should carefully review the contract terms to understand the conditions for termination and potential implications when the contract ends.

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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/2026fwc2126.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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