SDA union reiterates working with children calls after Brendan Nazer charges

A convicted 21-year-old pervert was working at Coles when he was again arrested on child exploitation allegations – but should he have been allowed to work at all?

A Coles night-fill worker was employed by the supermarket giant despite being on the child sex offenders register and serving a suspended sentence for child abuse material offences.

The worker, Brendan Nazer, now faces fresh child exploitation material charges, reigniting calls from one of the state’s most influential unions to review the requirements of working with children checks.

Nazer, 21, of Salisbury North, on Monday faced court over the alleged offences, which came 14 months after he was found guilty of almost identical allegations but avoided jail time.

Revelations Nazer was able to continue working as a McDonald’s manager while facing the 2021 charges saw the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, write to the then-government to review procedures.

In light of Nazer’s fresh allegations, the SDA has reiterated the importance of reviewing the circumstances a person charged with or convicted of a child sex abuse related offences is able to continue to work with children in employment settings.

SDA State Secretary Josh Peak. Picture: File

Brendan Nazer, 21, who has been charged with possessing child exploitation material. Picture: Facebook

“It doesn’t seem to make sense that people who are charged or convicted with child-related offences are removed from volunteer-type settings but can continue to work with children in the retail and fast food industries,” SDA secretary Josh Peak said.

Coles was asked whether the company was aware of Nazer’s convictions when they employed him.

A spokeswoman said they were unable to comment on his employment given the fresh allegations were still before court.

Coles’s careers website listed police checks as a requirement for a successful application for Customer Service Agent roles with the company.

The spokeswoman was asked what the company’s policy for hiring people on the national child sex offender’s registry was, but they again said they could not comment.

Nazer will again face court on the fresh charges in December.