Fair Work dissects show-cause steps that pushed diversity specialist to resign
A diversity specialist who resigned after a show-cause meeting has been found to have been forced to quit, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
On 25 November 2025, Deputy President Wright of the Fair Work Commission found that Inclusion & Diversity Specialist Leigh Hoang was “dismissed” within the meaning of the Fair Work Act, even though she resigned from Endeavour Energy Network Management Pty Ltd Trading as Endeavour Energy.
Hoang applied under section 365 of the Fair Work Act 2009, alleging her dismissal contravened the general protections provisions. Endeavour objected at the threshold, arguing there was no dismissal because she had resigned. The Commission first had to decide that jurisdictional issue before it could deal with the substance of the claim.
Hoang was employed from 18 March 2024 to 25 March 2025 as an Inclusion & Diversity Specialist in the Organisational Development team within the People & Culture division. She reported to Organisation Development and Learning and Inclusion and Diversity Manager, Joanne McManus. Her responsibilities included two NAIDOC Week events on 10–11 July 2024, Family Friendly Workplace accreditation in August 2024, the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in November 2024, the Innovate RAP launch event on 22 November 2024, a Diwali event on 27 November 2024, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency Gender Pay Gap Employer Statement in...
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