Matt Camenzuli, a conservative powerbroker who was expelled from the Liberals after a failed attempt to sue former prime minister Scott Morrison, recently lost a personal legal battle. The Fair Work Commission ruled that Camenzuli’s software firm, Companion Systems, unfairly dismissed James Camenzuli, Matt’s cousin and an employee for 14 years. The dispute arose when James, who had recently started working remotely from the Gold Coast, was offered redundancy during a company downturn. When James failed to return his company-issued phone and laptop within a two-day window, he was summarily dismissed. The commissioner found the dismissal unfair and ordered compensation of $34,000 plus $3775 in superannuation.
During the hearing, James speculated that the cousins had fallen out over political matters, with Matt holding strong views on COVID, lockdowns, and working from home. Commissioner Jennifer Hunt criticized Companion Systems’ handling of the situation, describing their approach as “callous and unprofessional.” She also criticized Matt for declining to appear at the hearing and failing to reach out to his cousin, calling his actions “spectacularly callous.” The commissioner inferred that Matt wanted to remove James from the company due to family disputes and offered him redundancy with a $5000 sweetener in exchange for signing a deed of release.
In London, a diplomatic spat may be brewing over foreign embassies that are refusing to pay the city’s congestion charge. Transport for London (TfL) is threatening court action against embassies that have racked up £140 million in unpaid fees since the charge was introduced in 2003. The US embassy is the worst offender, owing more than £14 million, followed by Japan, India, and Nigeria. Australia also made the list, owing £760, which TfL is demanding High Commissioner Stephen Smith’s Australia House to pay.
TfL has labeled the embassies that refuse to pay the congestion charge as a “stubborn minority.” The charge was introduced by former London mayor “Red” Ken Livingstone. If diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the issue, court action may be pursued. Interestingly, Australia, although at the bottom of the list, is among the embassies that owe money. DFAT was unable to provide an immediate response on the matter, leading to speculations of passing the hat around to pay off the debt.
The situation highlights the potential for a diplomatic dispute over a relatively small sum of £760 owed by Australia House. If the matter is not addressed promptly, it could escalate into a more significant issue. The refusal of some embassies to pay the congestion charge has drawn attention to the issue and may result in further legal action. TfL’s threat of court action underscores the seriousness with which they are approaching the situation and their determination to collect the outstanding fees.
Overall, the legal battle between Matt Camenzuli’s Companion Systems and his cousin James, along with the potential diplomatic spat over unpaid congestion charges by foreign embassies in London, demonstrate the complexities and personal implications that can arise in legal and diplomatic disputes. The outcomes of these situations will likely have lasting effects on the relationships and reputations of those involved, highlighting the importance of handling such matters with care and professionalism.
