Section 556 — Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)

Civil double jeopardy

If a person is ordered to pay a pecuniary penalty under a civil remedy provision in relation to particular conduct, the person is not liable to be ordered to pay a pecuniary penalty under some other provision of a law of the Commonwealth in relation to that conduct.

Note: A court may make other orders, such as an order for compensation, in relation to particular conduct even if the court has made a pecuniary penalty order in relation to that conduct (see subsection 546(5)).

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 17 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.

Related sections

s 553 — Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings
s 554 — Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings
s 555 — Evidence given in proceedings for pecuniary penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings
s 557 — Course of conduct
s 557A — Serious contravention of civil remedy provisions
s 557B — Liability of bodies corporate for serious contravention

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