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Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club investigated for staff underpayments
The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club is under investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman following the discovery of systematic underpayments to its kitchen staff. The club voluntarily reported the issue after an internal review identified errors in the interpretation of overtime penalty entitlements for 26 employees between 2018 and 2023.
In response to the findings, the club engaged an independent external payroll specialist and an external auditor to review the audit methodology and ensure accuracy. The club has stated it is cooperating fully with the Fair Work Ombudsman to address outstanding employee entitlements.
The investigation coincides with significant leadership changes and financial instability at the prestigious club. Non-executive director Sam Ejtemai and head of food and beverage Chris Manti have both resigned. These developments follow a period of financial difficulty, including a nearly $1 million bottom-line loss in the 2025 financial year and a previous $2.4 million loss in food and beverage operations investigated by Grant Thornton in 2023.
Entities
Chris Manti · Fair Work Ombudsman · Grant Thornton · Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club · Sam Ejtemai
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club voluntarily reported historical staff underpayments to the Fair Work Ombudsman. www.theage.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Non-executive director Sam Ejtemai and head of food and beverage Chris Manti have resigned from the club. www.theage.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] An audit by Grant Thornton in 2023 investigated a $2.4 million loss in the club's food and beverage operations. www.theage.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The club recorded a bottom-line loss of nearly $1 million in the 2025 financial year. www.theage.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The underpayments affected 26 kitchen staff regarding overtime penalty entitlements between 2018 and 2023. www.theage.com.au