Federal election 2019: Tradie dumped from job after bailing up Bill Shorten on tax cuts

A tradie who approached Bill Shorten and asked a tricky question about Labor’s policies was abruptly dumped from his job as punishment.

A man who bailed up Bill Shorten on the campaign trail was suspended by his employer as a result, it’s been revealed.

The Courier-Mail newspaper today reports that the man, who worked at Gladstone Port in Queensland, discovered that his access card had been cut off when he showed up for a shift a day after approaching the Labor leader on the hustings.

The 49-year-old, who has not been named, worked as an electrical engineer as a contractor for Welcon Technologies but was punished for breaching his employer’s policy about speaking to the media.

The man was dumped from his job after bailing up Bill Shorten about tax cuts. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Shorten was approached by the man while visiting the central Queensland town two weeks ago, asking about Labor’s tax cuts policy.

He was filmed calmly approaching the Labor leader and politely saying that “it would be good to see higher-wage earners given a tax break”.

In response, Mr Shorten replied: “We’re going to look at that.”

It sparked a backlash from the Coalition, which accused Labor of engaging in policy on the run given it has no intention of extending tax cuts to higher income-earners.

The furore marked another blunder for Mr Shorten during a shocker start to the campaign, during which he stumbled numerous times while explaining policy costings.

After the exchange, the man was dumped from his job.

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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten talking to workers at Gladstone Port. Picture: Kym Smith

He arrived for a shift the next day and found his swipe card didn’t work and was told to go home.

His belongings were later packed up and delivered to his home.

The man said he didn’t address the media but rather that his conversation was just captured by cameras who were travelling with Mr Shorten.

After The Courier-Mail began chasing the story on Friday, Welcon Technologies back flipped and reinstated the man’s employment.

But it reports that he intends to find work elsewhere.

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While there’s no suggestion Bill Shorten had anything to do with the man’s employment situation, it’s a bad look for Labor. Picture: AAP

In a statement this morning, Gladstone Ports Corporation denies it suspended the man or terminated his contract.

It also claimed that he “is still employed by the contractor and carrying out work for their employer”, despite the contrary claim in the media today.

“GPC did not instruct any employees or contractors to attend the visit (by Mr Shorten),” the statement reads.

“The worker is a sub-contractor and as such GPC cannot comment on any decisions made by their employers.”

There is no suggestion that Mr Shorten had anything to do with the worker’s suspension.

But Sky News quotes sources as saying questions are being asked about the influence of Gladstone Ports boss Peter O’Sullivan, a former Labor candidate.

Political journalist Mark Kenny was on Sky News this morning and said the whole saga isn’t a good look for Labor.

“If there’s anything to this, it does have undertones of union intimidation, of recriminations for not toeing the line,” Kenny said.