A bitter and long-running feud within a gated 'luxury' townhouse complex in Brisbane has spilled into the Fair Work Commission and triggered a police investigation, pitting residents against their on-site caretaker amid allegations of bullying, intimidation and financial misconduct.
A Resort-Style Dispute
The conflict centres on Il Villaggio, a resort-style development in Sunnybank marketed as offering a slice of Italian village living. Tensions have escalated since caretaker Shirley Wang and her husband, Ho 'Rocky' Lau, took over management in 2021 through their company, ProAgent. The couple, who also own a property within the complex, lived on-site while holding the contract for cleaning, maintenance, gardening and letting services.
The dispute reached a legal head when Wang filed an application with the Fair Work Commission, seeking stop-bullying orders against members of the body corporate committee. She alleged she was subjected to escalating harassment and unreasonable behaviour, including being bombarded with late-night emails, having payments withheld, and being excluded from meetings. Wang further claimed residents threatened her with litigation designed to 'financially ruin' her and that defamatory accusations, including claims she stole body corporate funds, were circulated on WeChat and WhatsApp, where she was called names like 'shameless' and a 'low life pig'.
Commission Rejects Bullying Claims
However, in a decision delivered this week, Fair Work Commissioner Sharon Durham rejected Wang's application. Commissioner Durham found the committee's conduct amounted to 'reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable way'. The ruling stated the dispute stemmed largely from Wang's own actions, including an 'unreasonably narrow interpretation' of her duties and a defensive reaction to criticism.
'I observed Mrs Wang to be unwilling to acknowledge the part she may have played in the breakdown of the relationship,' Commissioner Durham wrote. She noted that basic cleaning and maintenance had been neglected, and the complex 'could not be said to meet the professional standard of luxury resort-style living'.
While Wang submitted over 900 pages of evidence supporting her claim, committee members testified the complex had deteriorated sharply under ProAgent's management, prompting formal performance reviews from 2022. They alleged Wang's work was consistently found substandard in independent assessments and that she responded with hostility, aggressive communications, and intimidating behaviour.
Fraud Charges and Financial Fallout
In a significant twist, Commissioner Durham noted that Wang is now facing separate fraud charges following a Queensland Police investigation into her conduct as caretaker. The body corporate alleges Wang was involved with a previous, self-selected committee that approved reimbursements to ProAgent and authorised payments for services allegedly not provided.
Committee chair Fiona Taylor told the Commission that invoices were issued four to six weeks in advance, leading to ProAgent being paid ahead of time. This allegedly left the body corporate in serious financial difficulty, at one point without sufficient funds to pay the complex's insurance. After a new committee took office in 2022, consultants David Leary and Partners identified multiple failures to meet industry standards. Wang responded not by addressing the findings, but by circulating a letter accusing the consultants of bias.
Commissioner Durham said this action demonstrated Wang's 'complete disregard' for the body corporate's role. Residents also made further complaints, alleging Wang and her husband threw away personal parcels, filled letterboxes with junk mail, and slammed bin lids late at night.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Wang, who confirmed she has engaged a criminal lawyer but declined to comment further. The case highlights the severe breakdown in relations that can occur within managed complexes, culminating in parallel legal battles over employment and alleged criminal conduct.
