Street sweeper Shaun Turner reveals political ambitions following sacking over Acknowledgement of Country objection
Melbourne man Shaun Turner was let go by Victoria's Darebin City Council in June 2024 over questioning why an Acknowledgement of Country was being introduced at a toolbox meeting involving the council's street cleaning team.
Mr Turner stood by his questioning in the meeting, where he argued "people who have worn the uniform and fought" for Australia should be thanked, and he won an unfair dismissal case against the council in June.
The Australian reports Mr Turner has received a compensation package following a Fair Work Commission mediation hearing on Tuesday, with the terms of the settlement being kept confidential.
The 60-year-old is now planning on taking some time out to consider 'where I sort of go next,' according to the masthead.
'Yeah, as I said, who knows? Maybe politics,' Mr Turner said.
'For now I'll just sit back and hopefully go enjoy some Sri Lankan sun.'
He also said he had been treating a potential debut in politics 'very seriously,' eyeing up a Senate seat in particular.
'I've had a lot of time to read, I watch a lot of political shows… and I have ideas,' he said, according to The Australian.
'I'd probably like to run in the Senate.'
Mr Turner revealed to the publication earlier this month that he was a 'fan' of One Nation leader and senator Pauline Hanson.
'People will throw the racist word at her, but she goes: 'No, I look after Australians, not the illegals that come into it',' Mr Turner said.
He previously told Sky News he thought Acknowledgement of Country rituals were 'getting overdone' and 'out of hand'.
'If you go to eight meetings you're probably going to get eight acknowledgement of the country's, so you spend half your day at it,' he said.
Mr Turner also claimed that he was 'not racist' and said he has a niece who has Indigenous Australian heritage.
'She's got three beautiful boys and one wild daughter. So I have no problems with Aboriginals,' he said.
He said he would play football with a 'great family of Aboriginal boys' and became good friends with one of the boys while growing up in Broadmeadows.
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