Australia’s Biggest Wage Scandal You’ve Never Heard Of | The West Report
David v Goliath, coal miner with no lawyer against BHP. The big Australian is back in court, accused of stealing billions of dollars in wages from his own employees.
Former coal miner Simon Turner has taken legal action against BHP and its labor hiring partners after uncovering one of the biggest wage theft scandals in Australian history. Turner, who broke his back while working at BHP’s Mount Arthur mine, says he was paid just $400 a week when his legal entitlement was more than $137,000 a year.
This case reveals how labor-hiring loopholes and corporate shell structures have allowed mining giants to underpay workers for years, even as regulators, unions and governments turn a blind eye.
It’s a David and Goliath battle that tests not only Australia’s industrial system but also whether an injured worker without legal support can get justice against some of the country’s most powerful corporations.
Michael West was founded Michael West Media Focusing on public interest journalism in 2016, particularly the increasing power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor for Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and was even once a stockbroker.
