Former building industry watchdog Nigel Hadgkiss has been ordered to pay $8500 for breaching the Fair Work Act.

In her judgement, Federal Court judge Berna Collier took into consideration Mr Hadgkiss' contrition and remorse and the fact he had no record of previous contraventions of the Fair Work Act. She also noted that Mr Hadgkiss "has paid a high personal price in the loss of his position as a result of his contravention".

Former Australian Building and Construction Commission boss Nigel Hadgkiss has been ordered to pay an $8500 penalty. Credit:Simon Schluter

The Federal Court found Mr Hadgkiss contravened the Fair Work Act by instructing staff not to publish legal changes to right-of-entry rules for unions. He made the admission as a result of legal action brought by the commission's chief target, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.

It was an embarrassing development for the Turnbull government, which used the ABCC as the catalyst for last year's double-dissolution election.