Former Wiggles CEO Luke O’Neill is pursuing legal action against Wiggles Holdings Pty Ltd, Anthony Field (the blue Wiggle), and general counsel Matthew Salgo. The basis of the lawsuit includes claims for unpaid bonuses and alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act. O’Neill asserts that he served as a consultant for the company from April 1, 2023, until January 2024, after which he became CEO on January 8, 2024.
O’Neill’s contract, dated March 5, 2024, outlined responsibilities such as developing strategies to enhance revenue, managing the budget, overseeing hiring practices, and reviewing financial matters. His compensation included a promised annual bonus of 5% based on the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, as well as an exit bonus of 7%.
In court documents, O’Neill alleges that he expressed concerns to Field regarding a special bonus plan implemented for personal acquaintances, which deviated from the standard bonus scheme. He also reported complaints about increased hiring costs for a project and alleged financial decisions made by Field, including the hiring of family members and friends, which he contended contributed to budget overruns.
According to O’Neill, a significant incident occurred on February 18, 2025, in which Field questioned his competence in front of other employees. He further claims that Field excluded him from a meeting with Kmart regarding the sale of Wiggles merchandise in April of the same year.
O’Neill has indicated that he requested clarification about his bonus for the previous financial year and expressed concerns about the impact of budget issues on his compensation eligibility. Following this, he alleges his employment was terminated on May 28, 2025, which he claims violated the Fair Work Act. Although he received a bonus of $86,266 in July 2025, he asserts that this amount was less than what he believes was owed. As of now, Wiggles Holdings and the involved parties have not filed a defense, and a first management hearing is scheduled for September 8.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/25/former-wiggles-ceo-luke-oneill-suing-group-federal-court-ntwnfb