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FairWorkMate

Record Keeping

Cases on employer record-keeping obligations under the Fair Work Act and related penalties.

29 record keeping decisions on file. Plain-English summaries with links to the original judgment. Ask the AI advisor about your situation — Plus members get full case-law citations in answers.

FWO13 Jan 2026$213,120

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2026-01-14-unsw-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman secured a penalty against the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for record-keeping failures. Between 2017 and 2022, UNSW failed to keep records for 63 casual academic employees, including hours

FWO17 Dec 2025$135,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2025-12-18-fajloun-motor-group-penalties-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

Fajloun Motor Group Pty Ltd, which previously operated an Ultra Tune franchise in Yagoona, New South Wales, has been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The company employed a worker in an automotive admin

FWO14 July 2025$100,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2025-07-15-kosu-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Kosu Group Pty Ltd, which previously operated Yakiniku Kosu restaurant in Castle Hill, Sydney, and its sole director and part-owner, the Respondent. They are acc

FWO9 July 2025$2,337

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2025-07-10-karnati-and-baddam-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the Applicant, a former commission agent of a United Petroleum outlet in Truganina, Victoria, and the Respondent, the former manager of the outlet. They are accu

FWO4 May 2025$802,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2025-05-05-mr-viet-penalties-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties and compensation after the Applicant and her partner, operators of two 'Mr Viet' Vietnamese eateries in Adelaide, underpaid 36 migrant workers. The workers, mostly Vietnamese int

FWO16 Apr 2025$1,878

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2025-04-17-record-keeping-blitz-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman conducted surprise inspections of approximately 50 businesses across six cities: Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Cairns. These businesses, including mobile phone repair shops, disc

FWO2 Apr 2025$1,000,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2025-04-03-sabcha-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Sabcha Pty Ltd, which operates 11 P’Nut Street Noodles restaurants in Sydney, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast, and one of its directors, Ankur Sehgal. It is all

FWO22 Dec 2024$5,000,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-12-23-blue-sky-kids-land-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

Blue Sky Kids Land Pty Ltd, a children’s clothing retailer operating in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and its directors the Applicant and the Second Respondent, have been penalised for exploiting

FWO4 Dec 2024$450,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-12-05-brisbane-frac-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 51 fast food outlets, restaurants, and cafés in southern Brisbane. These inspections, part of a national Food Precincts Program, found 44 businesses (86%) breached workplace laws. A t

FWO18 Nov 2024$310,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-11-19-adelaide-west-frac-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 36 fast food outlets, restaurants, and cafés in Adelaide's western suburbs. Inspections were based on intelligence from various sources, including anonymous reports. Investigations fo

FWO31 July 2024$58,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-08-01-south-east-melbourne-food-outlets-wages-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 32 food businesses in south-east Melbourne, including venues in Bentleigh, Carnegie, and Clayton. These inspections followed intelligence from various sources, including anonymous rep

FWO3 July 2024$220,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-07-04-sunshine-coast-frac-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 21 food outlets in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, including restaurants and cafes in Noosa Shire. Inspections were prompted by reports. Investigations found 13 businesses (68%) breac

FWO25 June 2024$149,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-06-26-acug-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

A.C.U.G. (NSW) Pty Ltd and A.C.U.G. (SA) Pty Ltd, part of the Australian Container Unloading Group (ACUG), have signed an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman. They failed to pay minimum hourly rates

FWO12 June 2024$280,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-06-13-newcastle-frac-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 43 food outlets in Newcastle, New South Wales, following anonymous reports. The inspections focused on fast food, restaurant, and café businesses. Investigations found breaches of wor

FWO9 Jan 2024$20,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2024-01-10-klm-vizaan-and-sai-litigations-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal action against three companies and two individuals related to alleged underpayments of workers at United Petroleum outlets in Tasmania and South Australia. In Tasmania, K

FWO6 Dec 2023$7,992

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2023-12-07-fun-tea-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman secured a penalty against the Respondent, a former director of Yuxuan Group Pty Ltd, which previously operated three 'Fun Tea' bubble tea outlets in Adelaide. The company breached record-keeping a

FWO25 Sept 2023$66,600

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2023-09-26-unsw-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal action against the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The FWO alleges UNSW breached workplace laws between 2017 and 2022. These breaches include failing to keep proper

FWO4 June 2023$140,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2023-06-05-carnarvon-cleaners-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

Carnarvon Cleaners Pty Ltd, a contract cleaning company based in Carnarvon, Western Australia, and its sole director and shareholder, Margaret Herlysha Seaton, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court.

FWO20 Mar 2023$115,603

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2023-03-21-jmsl-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

JMSL Pty Ltd, a former franchisee of The Coffee Club in Geelong, Victoria, and its sole director, the Respondent, underpaid two young workers a total of $15,412 between May 2016 and November 2018. The workers were paid f

FWO2 Mar 2023$360,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2023-03-03-perth-security-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 13 security businesses in Perth following concerns about workplace law compliance. Investigations concluded for 12 businesses, revealing that nine (75%) were non-compliant. A total of

FWO8 Feb 2023$32,321

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2023-02-09-85-degrees-franchisor-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against 85 Degrees Coffee Australia Pty Ltd ('85 Degrees'), the franchisor of the '85°C Daily Café' brand. The action alleges that 85 Degrees is liable for alleged under

FWO4 Dec 2022$192,995

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-12-05-quickpoint-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

Quickpoint Pty Ltd, formerly operating a café called 'Shimizu Harbour Town' in Perth, and its sole director, the Respondent, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigat

FWO20 Nov 2022$8,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-11-21-dupree-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

Gary Dupree, a part-owner and director of companies operating the Solstice Café Restaurant, Jimmy D’s Bar and Grill, and The Moonah Hotel in Hobart, has been penalised. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after Complian

FWO11 Sept 2022$400,000

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-09-12-darwin-food-precincts-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 48 businesses in Darwin food precincts, including Darwin City, Casuarina, and Palmerston City. The investigation found 76% of businesses were non-compliant with workplace laws. Many b

FWO31 Mar 2022$69,552

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-04-01-pagoda-tree-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Pagoda Tree (Vic) Pty Ltd, a women’s health clinic in Albert Park, Melbourne, and its sole director, Natalie Jade Kringoudis, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The company withheld governme

FWO8 Mar 2022$29,200

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-03-09-welvin-kevin-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated Welvin and Kevin Pty Ltd, which operates the Salamanca Wharf Café in Hobart. An inspector issued a Compliance Notice in July 2020 after suspecting five workers were underpaid minimum

FWO8 Mar 2022$66,339

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-03-09-house-of-hoi-an-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated House Hoi An Pty Ltd, a Vietnamese restaurant in Prahran, Melbourne, and its director, Keerthi Hapugasdeniya. The investigation began after employees, two from Vietnam and one from Sr

FWO7 Mar 2022$182,596

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-03-08-sandwich-chefs-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 39 Sandwich Chefs franchise businesses across Victoria, NSW, South Australia, and Queensland. The investigation, conducted in 2020 and 2021, followed concerns about underpayments and

FWO12 Jan 2022$18,952

Fair Work Ombudsman

FWO-2022-01-13-adelaide-contract-cleaning-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 17 commercial cleaning companies in Adelaide. The investigation followed concerns about non-compliance with workplace laws. More than half of the businesses inspected breached workpla