Jun 19, 2026 – 3.50pmThe unprecedented artificial intelligence-driven surge in dismissal claims has blown out the time to resolve cases from less than four weeks to almost seven as the umpire concedes it cannot stop AI affecting its operations.Fair Work Commission general manager Murray Furlong revealed in a presentation that the commission’s 72 per cent increase in case lodgements since 2023 was “potentially unprecedented in the 120-year history of the institution” and was leading to significant delays.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
From cut-and-paste to days of work: How AI is used on dismissal claims
Fair Work’s general manager has conceded that it would be “an exercise in futility” to try to stop artificial intelligence affecting the operations of the workplace umpire.
TL;DRAI
Fair Work Commission logs 72% surge in dismissal claims since 2023, resolution time 4→7 weeks — AI-driven, unprecedented in 120 years. Tech leaders: AI on HR/legal creates compliance debt. Automation without governance signals cost escalation and operational risk.
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