Premier Investments Chairman Solomon Lew. Source: AAP Image/Julian Smith
Smiggle owner Premier Investments has bowed to public pressure and promised to pay back $15.6 million worth of JobKeeper payments it received during the pandemic last year.
But that’s only about 22% of the $68.7 million the profitable company was paid under the scheme between April and September.
The retail giant unveiled its repayment plan on Monday after facing months of criticism for paying out $111 million in dividends to investors despite taking almost $70 million from the public purse.
Billionaire chair Solomon Lew previously refused to repay taxpayers and only last month said he’d hold the $15.6 million in a rainy day fund to pay staff during lockdowns in Western Australia and Queensland.
Premier Investments Chairman Solomon Lew. Source: AAP Image/Julian Smith
Premier Investments-owned retail giant Just Group is under investigation by the workplace regulator in relation to its compliance with JobKeeper provisions in workplace law.
The owner of fashion retail chains such as Peter Alexander, Jay Jays, Just Jeans and Portmans, Just Group received $70 million in JobKeeper from the federal government, however, its use of the payments is now subject to an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman, according to
A Fair Work Ombudsman spokesperson confirmed the regulator is currently investigating Just Group but did not provide any further details.
“As this matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time,” the spokesperson told