Regulatory Alerts2025-12-12
Former CEO of Bruck Textile Technologies Has Conviction Overturned Following Appeal
The Victorian Court of Appeal has set aside the criminal conviction of Geoffrey Thomas Parker, former CEO of Bruck Textile Technologies, for preventing the recovery of employee entitlements. The court granted leave to appeal and an extension of time, allowing the appeal and entering a judgment of acquittal following the precedent set in DPP (Cth) v Bart. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions originally prosecuted the matter, which arose from charges under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Following an appeal to the Victorian Court of Appeal, Geoffrey Thomas Parker, former CEO of Bruck Textile Technologies Pty Ltd, has had his criminal conviction of preventing the recovery of employee entitlements set aside.
Mr Parker’s appeal followed the Victorian Court of Appeal’s case stated judgment on questions of law in relation to the interpretation of the offence legislation, in DPP (Cth) v Bart [2025] VSCA 161 (7 July 2025) .
On 9 December 2025, the Victorian Court of Appeal heard Mr Parker’s applications for leave to appeal against his conviction and an extension of time within which to seek the appeal. The Court granted the extension of time and leave to appeal, allowed the appeal, ordered that the conviction on the charge be set aside and entered a judgment of acquittal.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuted the matter.
Background
Mr Parker was one of three accused each charged with one count of preventing the recovery of employee entitlements contrary to sections 596AB(1) and 1311(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Mr Parker pleaded guilty to the offence on 3 April 2024. The Crown discontinued proceedings against Mr Parker’s co-accused following the Court’s ruling in DPP (Cth) v Bart ( 25-191MR ).
Further background to matter is set out at 22-114MR and 23-177MR .