Alice Springs youth worker loses wrongful dismissal bid after claiming ‘political’ discrimination

A NORTHERN Territory youth worker has failed in a bid to sue her former employer for wrongful dismissal after claiming she was discriminated against for her ‘political values’

Mel Waters claimed her boss threatened that she would ‘never work in town again’ if she spoke negatively about the youth centre

AN ALICE Springs youth worker has failed in a bid to sue her former employer for wrongful dismissal after claiming she was discriminated against for her “political values”.

Mel Waters took the Gap Youth and Community Centre to the Fair Work Commission after she was sacked during a probation period in January.

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Ms Waters claimed she was shunted into a data entry role “without discussion” and was targeted for blowing the whistle about “the disappointment young people felt when they witnessed bicycles donated from the police station for them given to staff members”.

Ms Waters also claimed GYCC chief executive Michelle Krauer threatened that Ms Waters would “never work in town again” if she spoke negatively about the organisation.

But the youth centre maintained Ms Waters’ rights were not breached and that she was given the boot because of “poor performance and failing to adhere to reasonable directions in the workplace”.

In dismissing the application on Tuesday, FWC deputy president John Kovacic found data entry was an “integral” part of Ms Waters’ role and the GYCC’s desire for her to do it “does not of itself appear to involve a contravention of the general protections provisions”.

“I note also that the applicant provided no material to support her contention regarding the threats allegedly made by Ms Krauer or to support the contention that the dismissal stemmed from the actions set out,” he said.

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“Against that background, the merits of the application do not appear strong.”

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