Fair Work wants to investigate teen ‘let go’ over No vote views for unfair dismissal
The Fair Work Ombudsman have urged the teenager fired for opposing same-sex marriage to get in contact with them as "workplace laws" could have been breached.
Madeline, who has not revealed her last name, was sacked as a contractor from an entertainment business in Canberra after she “made it public knowledge” that “it’s okay to vote no”.
The owner of the company, Madlin Sims, said she fired the staff member for being “homophobic” and she couldn’t have someone who represents her children’s entertainment business “posting hate speech online”.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Fair Work Ombudsman said they want to interview both Madeline and Ms Sims to "form an assessment as to whether any workplace laws have been breached," The Australian reported.
The spokesperson confirmed they would be attempting to get in contact with both parties, but said the ombudsman would not be able to do much if the teenager was a contract worker.
“To assert that voting 'no' is homophobic as claimed by the employer is demonstrably false and indicative of the unacceptable bullying and name-calling engaged in by the 'yes' campaign," Senator Eric Abetz said.
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Madeline told Triple J’s Hack that while she believes in equality, she could not vote yes based on her Christian values.
“I have been raised a Christian my whole life and in the bible God clearly states that a man and a man, and a woman and a woman, are not to be together,” she said.
“I love everyone, I'm not a hateful person at all and I do believe everyone should have equality, but to vote yes to me is something I can't do.”
Madeline told The Bolt Report on Tuesday night she did not deserve to lose her job over her opinion on same sex marriage.
“This is a democracy and we were given the options and asked as Australians to vote yes or no and it is my opinion to vote no,” she said.
"I don't think my job should be taken away from me just because I have an opinion that someone disagrees with."
Ms Sims has since stated in a Facebook post, which has been deleted, that she did not fire Madeline because of her views on marriage equality.
“She was let go because her actions showed she is extremely out and proud about her views on homosexuals,” she posted.
