During the December 2025 Senate Estimates session with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), I asked about progress on addressing the issue of stolen miners’ wages.
Mr Steve Ronson, representing the FWO, advised that 33 complaints are currently being looked at, and that preliminary findings are close to completion. These findings will enable the parties involved to review their positions and make further submissions if they choose. He also noted that three companies have now self-reported instances of non-compliance, and a total of 25 employers are involved. Several staff members within the FWO are actively working on this matter.
I will not relent until this injustice is fully addressed. Those responsible must be held accountable.
— Senate Estimates | December 2025
Transcript
ACTING CHAIR: I’ll go over to Senator Roberts. Hello, long time, no see.
Senator ROBERTS: Not since yesterday.
ACTING CHAIR: Would you like to have a crack, mate? We are rolling through, and I’d like to give you the opportunity to put your questions to the Fair Work Ombudsman before we move to Senator Kovacic.
Senator ROBERTS: I’m not having a crack. I’m just going to ask some very simple questions.
ACTING CHAIR: That’s code. I know what he’s like.
Senator ROBERTS: Thank you, Chair. No, my questions are really simple. On the matter of complaints from casual coal miners in Central Queensland and the Hunter Valley, where are you up to?
Ms Booth: Thanks for the question, Senator Roberts.
Senator ROBERTS: It’s only really simple.
Ms Booth: We have 33 matters under investigation. Beyond that, I’m going to ask either Mr Campbell or Ms Volzke to add any colour to that response.
Mr Campbell: I’m happy to bring Steve Ronson up as well, Senator.
Ms Booth: Probably makes sense.
Mr Campbell: If you want to start with your specific question, then we can manage it accordingly.
Senator ROBERTS: Just an update.
Mr Campbell: Just an update.
Ms Booth: Where are we up to, Mr Ronson, is the question—the outcome at 33.
Mr Ronson: We’re well advanced with those investigations—there’s the number that Ms Booth just provided—and we’re getting very close to issuing preliminary findings in several cases. The objective of issuing
the preliminary findings is to make sure that both or all parties to a dispute have the opportunity to review what we’ve found in our investigations and give them some time to provide either additional or new evidence or
confirm our findings. We anticipate that, within the next few weeks, the preliminary findings for several cases will be issued. That will then continue in the New Year. We’ve done most of our work in those investigations and we’re now getting up to the point of sharing those findings.
Senator ROBERTS: Roughly, out of the 33, what percentage will have preliminary findings coming out in the next few weeks?
Mr Ronson: Before Christmas, out of the 33 investigations, if we take—sorry, 31 is probably the more precise number—but if we—
Senator ROBERTS: Excuse me, what you mean by ’31 is more precise’?
Ms Booth: That’s just updated from the 33 last—
Mr Ronson: Sorry, it was 33 cases last time we met. There’s been two finalised since then. It’s 31 cases now. Sorry, apologies. Of that number, three are self-reports. The two cases—
Senator ROBERTS: What does that mean, that they made their own complaints?
Mr Ronson: Correct.
Senator ROBERTS: They submitted their own complaints.
Mr Ronson: Three companies have self-reported non-compliance with various elements of the Fair Work Act.
Senator ROBERTS: Employers?
Mr Ronson: Yes. The two cases that I am aware of, the findings that will likely be issued in the next few weeks will cover about four workers. What I can say is that we’re close to issuing findings with two cases that
cover four workers.
Senator ROBERTS: Is that the final decision?
Mr Ronson: Well, what will happen—
Senator ROBERTS: Is it going to vary for each of their complaints?
Mr Ronson: Yes. What we’ll do is issue the findings. The employer, or the employing entities, and the workers will receive the findings, and they will be given an opportunity to reflect on them, look at them and
ensure that they are accurate or, if they want to, contest any part of our findings. If so, they’ll be given reasonable time. Possibly, because it’s Christmas, they’ll be given four weeks or thereabouts. By the end of January, if there’s no additional or new evidence or isn’t any contest, then we’ll proceed to finalising those findings. What we’re hoping is that by January and February we’ll be issuing, progressively and sequentially, more findings, because we’ve done most of the investigation work for those 28 cases.
Senator ROBERTS: When do you think all the 31 remaining will be finished?
Mr Ronson: If I exclude the self-reports and we look at the 28 cases, my view would be that the preliminary findings would be issued through not just December but January, February and possibly early March—so
progressively.
Senator ROBERTS: So the final reports will come about four weeks after.
Mr Ronson: The findings of each particular investigation are about four weeks after the preliminary findings. Unless—say, for example—I issue you a letter and you go, ‘Hang on, you’ve omitted this evidence,’ or, ‘You’re missing this.’ That, of course, might continue the investigation.
Senator ROBERTS: What’s the breakdown, roughly, between Queensland and the Hunter Valley?
Mr Ronson: I’d need to take that on notice.
Senator ROBERTS: Could you, please. And the number of employers involved?
Mr Ronson: From memory, it would be 25.
Senator ROBERTS: Twenty-five employers?
Mr Ronson: Yes.
Senator ROBERTS: I’ll leave it at that. Well, perhaps I will ask a question. Are they labour hire firms or mine owners?
Mr Ronson: I’m happy to take it on notice to provide the particulars of that division, but it’s a mix.
Senator ROBERTS: Okay. And how many staff do you have devoted to this?
Mr Ronson: In terms of dedicated staff, there would be at least three. That’s them putting a considerable amount of their time into just this particular sector, but I’m happy to correct that.
Senator ROBERTS: If it’s not correct, you can provide it on notice.
Mr Ronson: Sorry. I’m happy to confirm it, but it would be about three.
Senator ROBERTS: Okay. Thank you.
