The non-profit operator Taronga and Western Plains zoos will pay millions of dollars in back wages to their casual workers after admitting to underpaying them. The organisation discovered that it had been underpaying its casual maintenance staff, amounting to about $2.6 million, including interest and superannuation. The underpayment issue was discovered after the implementation of a new payroll system in February 2021. Taronga CEO Cameron Kerr apologised to the affected workers and said that back payments would be made in July, including interest and superannuation. Independent auditors have been engaged to review the extent of underpayments, and Taronga will correct its payroll system from July 13. Workers had previously staged a strike at Western Plains Zoo, complaining about the new payroll system’s underpayment. The Australian Workers Union has criticised Taronga for not addressing these issues earlier.