Victorian Council Dismissed Worker for Questioning Need for Acknowledgement of Country

‘I believe that I’m being made out to be a racist,’ the dismissed worker said.

The Aboriginal Flag is seen flying during the NAIDOC March in Melbourne, Australia in July 2005. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

A Melbourne council worker has won an unfair dismissal case against his employer after he was sacked for his opinion on an Acknowledgement of Country being performed during a morning meeting.

Street cleaner Shaun Turner was dismissed from Darebin City Council after he questioned the need to perform an Acknowledgement of Country—which credits the Indigenous people of the region—during a “toolbox” safety briefing.