00:02Caring for animals has always been Sarah's passion, which is why in 2021 she started
00:08working for her now former employer, Paws Darwin.
00:12We saved animals, we helped people whose animals were requiring expensive surgeries that they
00:23couldn't afford.
00:24But after a few years in the job, she discovered the charity had neglected to pay her
00:29super.
00:30I got a letter from my super fund saying that my life insurance was about to be cancelled
00:36because no contributions had been made for a year.
00:41Sarah isn't alone, several others say they too felt deceived about their superannuation.
00:46Every single payslip they claimed they were paying me X amount of super and it is disgusting
00:53that they didn't.
00:54My super account never existed and checking my payslips, my super account number is straight
01:01zeros and there's no identification number for my account.
01:04Despite still operating, Paws Darwin has failed to file their financial report for 2025.
01:09But public records from the year prior show they owe more than $150,000 in superannuation
01:16to staff.
01:18Confidentiality laws mean the ATO couldn't comment specifically on Paws.
01:21But in a statement it said it takes non-compliance with super obligations seriously.
01:26With the records that the employee has, which hopefully will be payslips and evidence from
01:32their super funds to show that amount has not been paid or paid properly, then they can
01:38pursue their own action in court.
01:40The ABC requested an interview with the director of Paws Darwin, Lisa Leake, who declined, but
01:46said in a statement the superannuation debt arose during a period of significant financial
01:51hardship and that Paws had come to an arrangement with the ATO.
01:55Ms Leake added that she rejects any allegation that Paws Darwin intentionally sought to mislead
02:02employees regarding their superannuation.
02:04The former staff say they feel left in the lurch.
02:07I want it investigated.
02:09I want the money that is owed to me.
02:11I don't feel like that's an unreasonable request.
02:13A call for a charity to do the right thing by the people who helped them do good work.
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