Street sweeper Shaun Turner says he speaks for 'silent majority' after questioning use of Acknowledgement to Country during Darebin Council work meeting

Sky News AU

21 hours ago

The Melbourne council street sweeper sacked over questioning the use of an Acknowledgement to Country before a work meeting has argued the ceremonies are being overdone and that he had to take a stand for the "silent majority".
Shaun Turner, 60, last week won his unfair dismissal case against Darebin Council after he was let go when he asked why the ritual was being introduced at a toolbox meeting.
He had argued in the meeting "people who have worn the uniform and fought" for Australia are the ones that should be thanked, later telling councillors he did not have to be "welcomed into my own country" and that the use of it was "getting out of hand".
The council alleged Mr Turner said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people "do not deserve an acknowledgement at the start of meetings" in a disrespectful way.
But the Fair Work Commission found Mr Turner's way of expression was not aggressive, as claimed by the council, and that his opinion did not warrant being sacked.
Speaking to The Australian, who first reported the story, the father-of-three said the use of Acknowledgement to Country in small meetings was "pushing it too far".
Mr Turner doubled down on previous remarks that the ceremony should be reserved for special occasions and foreign dignitaries when they visit the country.
"I think the silent majority who won't just say anything, but they probably all think the same way but they don't want to upset the apple cart," he said.
Asked if Australia has become "too politically correct", the council worker said "it's all gone too far the other way and people have just had enough now".
'I just feel like if you were a pale, stale male you can't go to work now and have a laugh. If me and you are having a laugh, and he (a third person) takes it to management, well, next minute we're getting a warning for not being inclusive," he said.
Mr Turner, who voted for the Liberal Party at the federal election, said often people jump jump to accusations of racism if they question the Welcome to Country.
But he insisted he has "no problem with Aboriginal people".
The Fair Work Commission is still considering whether the worker from Research, northeast of Melbourne's outskirts, should be compensated or be given his job back.
Mr Turner is unsure whether he wants to continue in the role again due to a painful shoulder condition that had left him on WorkCover prior to being sacked.
He would consider being redeployed to another role and/or compensation.
Overnight, Senator Pauline Hanson praised Mr Turner for speaking his mind.
"That council worker, good on him for actually fighting back over it and questioning it. And yet he's lost his job. He's won it in the courts and I hope that they actually apologise to him and offer his job back," Senator Hanson told Sky News' Danica and James.
It comes after a poll from the Institute of Public Affairs over the weekend found 56 per cent of people surveyed say Welcome to Country Ceremonies are divisive.