u/BriarBones

I am looking into filing a complaint with the fair work commission as I've been soft fired from my job after making a complaint about a member of management and would like some advice.

For context, I was injured at work late October 2025 and filed for Work Cover. Following my return to work I was regularly paired with a member of management who often made defamatory statements regarding race and gender. I did not engage with or encourage these comments but felt uncomfortable saying anything. Working in manufacturing this is unfortunately pretty normal behaviour.

In June this year this manager made a sexist comment towards the businesses only female employee, which led to me making a complaint directly to the business owner. A 3rd party contractor was brought in, who 'investigated' and found it was my word vs his. The outcome was to keep us separated going farward.

Very soon following the complaint outcome meeting my hours were reduced. I also had two serious alegations made against me which were quickly disproven. I have never previously had any complaints or write ups regarding my behavior or performance so these were both very unexpected. Now it is mid October and I havent been given hours in several weeks. When I asked why the answer they gave was that all work hours have been allocated elsewhere. Prior to my injury I was consistantly working 24 hour weeks and while I am a casual employee and my hours are not garunteed, the fact this has occurred after making my complaint is highly suspect.

It is my belief that following my complaint they were trying to find a reason to fire me, and when that didnt work they have instead made it so that I will need to leave for another job. I am within 12 months of making my Work Cover claim so my employment is protected until that date passes, however Work Cover has said they can not help.

I am now looking at filing a complaint with the Fair Work Commission. Unfortunately I do not have the means or income to hire a lawyer so I have been contacting various community legal aid services for help. Because this falls under employment law I haven't had any success yet but I am still trying. I am also looking into those no win no fee lawyers but I am hesitant of hidden costs.

In the meantime I am looking for some advice or insight into making a Fair Work complaint for retaliation. If you have had any experience with this process or been in a similair situation I would love some insight.

5 years ago my partner and I could afford a 2 bedroom home in the suburb we preferred. Now we are paying the same ammount for a bedroom in a share house on the edge of the city. Rents go up at every opportunity, and the housing crisis is only exaserbated by the lack of supply, fueled by infective government policies and the boom in homes being converted to short term stays. Social housing is in a severe deficit and only the lowest income earners qualify for the few homes out there.

So where do investment portfolio bros and inafectice policy makers think this will leave us all in 5 years? I feel as if they all operate on this idea that renters are an infinite source of growth, which feels braindead to me. When the majority of Australians are experiencing rental stress, and the free-market leaving no options for affordable housing we are rapidly approaching a wall.

I am no economists but I only see 2 outcomes. They continue to squeeze renters for every cent, forcing us to cram into smaller and smaller spaces and accept sub-par living conditions, or flee our areas all together in the hopes that the grass is greener elsewhere. Or the market stalls because people can no longer afford these endless rises, though this seems unlikely to me. And even if it does, I find it doubtful that the market will come down in response, and until there is some drastic policy changes or increase in supply i dont think it ever will.

So what do you think the property market will look like in 5 years if things dont change?