Abusive bus driver fired by council loses appeal

The dismissal of a Brisbane bus driver who ignored time schedules, didn’t wear a seatbelt, drove into a parked vehicle and abused colleagues has been upheld.

Matthew Satterly lost an appeal this week to have his job reinstated. He was dismissed in 2023 after 17 years working for Brisbane City Council.

It came after a string of alleged indiscretions while on the job.

Brisbane buses travelling along Victoria Bridge to the CBD.Credit: Courtney Kruk

Satterly fought his dismissal at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, claiming his behaviour was a result of mental illness caused by unfair treatment at Brisbane City Council.

“I have found that Satterly’s misconduct was not as a consequence of any … condition from which he had suffered,” the appeal findings say.

“[It was] misconduct that was serious in nature. It was misconduct that justified the council dismissing him.”

Just before 5pm on February 9, 2023 Satterly collided with a parked ute while pulling out from a stop on Queen Street in the Brisbane CBD.

CCTV showed he walked out, looked at the damage and then got back in his seat and drove away without putting his seatbelt on.

He told the hearing he “forgot” to inform superiors immediately.

His seatbelt was only off for about 16 seconds, but the report found this was in breach of driving rules.

Satterly acknowledged he had also driven away from some bus stations early, but said route scheduling was “garbage”.

The inquest found these incidents were careless, but his dismissal was largely justified by a later series of outbursts.

He swore at a colleague just before 7pm on February 9, 2023 while holding up buses at the Browns Plains station, and later aggressively confronted a female driver.

On another occasion he sent a letter to then-council chief executive Colin Jensen saying he had access to handguns.

He also used offensive words to describe other council employees and doubled down during the dismissal appeal.

“My ‘massive c---’ remark … still stands,” he said of a superior.

The commission found Satterly was not dismissed unfairly or due to mental illness.

“The dismissal was not harsh, unjust or unreasonable,” it said.

“Satterly’s application for reinstatement is dismissed.”