QLD tour operator in court for underpaying staff

By admin


A tour operator in far north Queensland is set to appear in Brisbane’s Federal Court today for allegedly underpaying backpackers almost $30,000.

Leigh Alan Jorgensen, who owns the Cairns-based Trek North Tours, told the Fair Work Ombudsman he never employed the five backpackers who had lodged complaints to the industry watchdog.

According to The West Australian newspaper, inspectors have allegedly found the backpackers who all had working holiday visas were paid flat rates between $10 to $16.37 an hour, and in some cases, weren’t paid at all.

It is believed under the award pay should have been set at a minimum of $17.98 for normal hours and up to $37.56 an hour for penalty shifts.

The paper cites Jorgensen allegedly refusing to cooperate with investigation by Fair Work, telling inspectors "you will not get a cent" and claiming he never employed the backpackers at all.

Ombudsman Natalie James told the paper inspectors tried to resolve the matter outside court, but were unable to.

"We were left with no option but to commence this legal action to recover the money allegedly owing to these workers," James said.

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