Designer Projects Victoria Pty Ltd: Melbourne home building company liquidated after being fined for underpaying worker

A major housing construction company has gone bankrupt just 18 months after it was fined more than $40,000 for underpaying an employee.

Designer Projects Victoria Pty Ltd was declared bankrupt on Monday after the Federal Circuit and Family Court in November 2022 fined the company $39,960 for failing to calculate back wages and provide pay slips to an employee.

Director Visna Thanthrige was also fined $3,996, bringing the total fines to $43,956.

The Melbourne-based housebuilder is being liquidated, with its assets distributed among creditors, just 18 months after the Fair Work Ombudsman ruled against it.

The company also traded as Designer Projects.

Designer Projects Victoria Pty Ltd was declared bankrupt on Monday after the Federal Circuit and Family Court fined it $39,960 in November 2022 for failing to calculate back wages and provide pay slips to an employee. The photo shows one of the construction sites

Simon Nelson, managing partner of BPS Reconstruction and Recovery, has been appointed liquidator of the Melton company which was first registered in January 2018.

A Fair Work inspector issued a compliance notice to Designer Projects Victoria in November 2021 after suspecting an employee was entitled to rights under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 and the Fair Work Act.

A judge ruled that the employee did not receive 220 hours of accrued but unused annual leave entitlement at the end of his employment.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission had attempted to deregister the company, which also trades as Designer Projects, in October 2023.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the liquidator and the Victorian Building Authority for comment.

The Melbourne-based housebuilder is being liquidated, with its assets distributed among creditors, just 18 months after the Fair Work Ombudsman secured a conviction