Charles Darwin University will reimburse over 800 staff members more than $4 million for wage underpayments occurring between 2016 and 2022. The underpayment affected both professional and academic staff. An investigation revealed systemic issues led to the discrepancies. CDU has been directed to rectify the situation and compensate affected employees. The university has not publicly detailed the reasons for the underpayments, but is complying with the directive. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding wage compliance within the Australian higher education sector. The back payments cover a six-year period of financial shortfall for staff.