the Applicant v Woolworths Group Limited
Citation: [2026] FWC 2538
At a glance
- Employees affected
- 1
What happened
the Applicant lodged an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission on April 9, 2026. The application was not accompanied by a fee payment or a fee waiver. Between May and June 2026, the Commission repeatedly contacted the Applicant via phone calls, SMS messages, and email to request payment of the fee or completion of a fee waiver form. Despite these attempts, the Applicant did not respond.
What was decided
The Fair Work Commission dismissed the Applicant’s unfair dismissal application. The Commission found that she failed to comply with section 587(1)(a) of the Fair Work Act by not paying the required application fee or seeking a waiver. They had given her ample opportunity to rectify this, but she did not respond to their communications. The application was therefore dismissed.
What it means for employers
Employers should be aware that applicants must pay an application fee or obtain a fee waiver when lodging applications with the Fair Work Commission. Failure to do so can result in the dismissal of the application.
What it means for employees
Employees who wish to make an unfair dismissal or other type of application to the Fair Work Commission must ensure they pay the required fee or apply for and receive a fee waiver. Otherwise, their application may be dismissed.
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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