Company allegedly underpays 23 journalists more than $300,000

Touchpoint Media is facing the Federal Circuit Court for allegedly underpaying 23 young journalists a total of $305,780 between January 2015 and June 2016.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against the company that operates news websites covering regional Queensland, and it company director Laurence Bernard Ward.

FWO inspectors commenced an investigation of Touchpoint Media after employees lodged requests for assistance.

Some of the employees were recruited straight out of university and in their early 20s.

It is alleged inspectors found the company had frequently underpaid or failed to pay journalists for work which appeared on several regionally aligned news websites owned by another company related to Ward.

The websites covered the regional Queensland areas of Charters Towers, Charleville, Goondiwindi, Longreach, Maranoa, Redland and Whitsundays.

The workers variously performed a range of duties associated with generating online stories and other content and promoting the websites.

It is alleged that four of the journalists were underpaid more than $30,000 each, with the largest alleged underpayment of an individual journalist being $48,217.

Touchpoint Media and Ward allegedly also contravened workplace laws during the investigation by knowingly providing false PAYG records to FWO inspectors that significantly over-stated the amounts employees had been paid.

Touchpoint Media Pty Ltd faces penalties of up to $54,000 per contravention, while Ward faces penalties of up to $10,800 per contravention.

The FWO is seeking a Court Order for the company and Ward to be jointly liable for back-paying the workers in full.

Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said a decision was made to commence legal action because of the alleged blatant underpayment of young workers, which had not been rectified.

"Allegations regarding inexperienced young workers who are committed to working hard to build careers is extremely disappointing and cannot be tolerated," said James.

"Employers should be aware that we treat exploitation of young workers very seriously because they can be more vulnerable in the workplace. Young workers are often less aware of their rights or are often reluctant to complain if they think something is wrong."