A political storm is brewing in North Queensland as the Liberal National Party's candidate for Hinchinbrook faces scrutiny over his connection to a company that systematically underpaid workers nearly $1.7 million.
Company Director's Political Ambitions Under Fire
Nick Trompf, the LNP's candidate for the marginal seat of Hinchinbrook, served as a director of Skillstech Aerospace Pty Ltd during the period when the company committed widespread wage theft against its employees. The Federal Circuit and Family Court recently imposed penalties totaling $446,916 against Skillstech Aerospace for deliberately underpaying 69 workers between 2018 and 2020.
Court documents reveal the company failed to pay proper overtime rates, weekend penalties, and leave entitlements to workers employed at their Eagle Farm facility in Brisbane. The underpayments affected both local Australian workers and temporary visa holders from countries including China, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Systemic Wage Theft Uncovered
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigation uncovered that Skillstech Aerospace underpaid workers $1,698,815 over the two-year period. The company, which provided training for aircraft maintenance engineers, claimed financial difficulties prevented them from paying proper wages.
Judge Douglas Humphreys found the company's conduct was "deliberate" and involved "significant underpayments of vulnerable employees." The judge noted that many affected workers were young and unfamiliar with Australian workplace laws, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation.
Trompf's involvement with the company spanned from October 2017 to February 2021, covering the entire period when the underpayments occurred. While he wasn't personally fined, his connection to the company has raised questions about his judgment and fitness for public office.
Political Fallout and Community Reaction
The revelations come at a sensitive time for the LNP, which has been trying to make inroads in regional Queensland seats. Hinchinbrook is currently held by the Labor Party with a margin of just 2.6 percent, making it one of the most contested seats in the upcoming election.
Local union representatives have expressed outrage at the situation. "This is exactly the kind of corporate behavior that hurts working families in our community," said one union official who requested anonymity. "Voters have a right to know if their potential representative has been involved with companies that exploit workers."
The LNP has defended their candidate, stating that Trompf was one of several directors and shouldn't bear sole responsibility for the company's actions. However, political opponents argue that as a director, he had a legal and moral responsibility to ensure workers received their proper entitlements.
This case highlights the ongoing issue of wage theft in Australia and raises important questions about corporate governance and political accountability. With the election approaching, voters in Hinchinbrook will need to weigh these factors when deciding their representation in Parliament.
