The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has addressed recent media reports concerning a judgement by the Australian Federal Court involving Sri Lanka’s former Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra.
According to the Ministry, it is standard practice for diplomats to be allowed domestic assistants to aid in their official duties.
The domestic assistant in question reportedly served a full three-year term and absconded just before the employer’s planned departure from Australia.
The Ministry confirmed that the approved salary had been paid as mutually agreed.
On Thursday (15), Australian media reported that a Federal Court judge criticized Australia’s Home Affairs Department for not properly scrutinizing the Sri Lankan diplomat, who had confiscated a staffer’s passport and granted her only two days of leave over three years.
As a result, the former Deputy High Commissioner was ordered to pay $543,000 in unpaid wages and interest to the domestic worker, alongside facing a significant fine for violating employment laws.