THE Fair Work Ombudsman has announced it has commenced legal action against No Land Tax Campaign Inc - better known to the BDN’s readers as the No Land Tax Party or NLTP - and its leader Peter Jones.
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Wolumla resident Frank Farrell who, along with up to 3600 others, worked handing out flyers for the party from 7am to 6pm on state Election Day in March this year is still yet to be paid.
“You would think there would be procedures to stop this from happening,” he said after hearing the news that the matter will be heard in the Federal Circuit Court in Sydney.
“It’s not a good reflection on our parliamentary system, and a sad reflection on our society,” Mr Farrell said.
Just after being promised $30 an hour plus potential bonuses for the work Mr Farrell became suspicious he may not be paid but did not know where to turn for help.
“I went to Andrew Constance’s office and the electoral commission and both told me they couldn’t help me,” he said.
“There should be safeguards in place during an election campaign, like having the money in trust so you’re paid for your work.”
It is not clear if the new political party has sufficient assets to enable any back-payment orders secured in court to be effectively enforced and Mr Jones has so far failed to comply with a Notice to Produce records and participate in a “record of interview” with Fair Works inspectors.
“We made every effort to resolve this matter with Mr Jones without the need for legal action, but unfortunately his lack of co-operation made that impossible,” Fair Work ombudsman Natalie James said.
While Mr Jones has styled himself as party leader, a quick domain search of the party’s website lists the registrant as a business run by Salvatore and Diana Simonetti with Teresa Simonetti as the registrant contact while Mr Jones is named as the technical contact.
The company is listed on the federal government’s Australian Business Register as a family partnership with its main business location in the ACT before moving to the Sydney suburb of Croydon.
After the state election this year, the tight-lipped Mr Jones told the media the party had been advised by unidentified people of wealth out of Canberra from the Liberal side of politics and he was advised not to preference the Labour party or The Greens.
Court documents allege the party mailed flyers to homes around NSW earlier this year seeking “outgoing and enthusiastic” people to hand out how-to-vote cards during the March 28 polling day.
Many workers placed their details online at website electionwork.com.au registered to Mr Jones and the NLTP.
Mr Jones faces maximum potential penalties of between $5400 and $10,800 per contravention and the NLTP faces maximum penalties between $27,000 and $54,000 per contravention, while both could potentially face contempt of court proceedings for any further underpayments proven in court.
Mr Farrell said he will be approaching the ombudsman’s office as soon as possible.
“I’ve waited long enough,” he said.
The ombudsman's office is currently awaiting the announcement of the setting of the first court date by the Sydney Federal Circuit Court.
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