jackovesk
23rd December 2011, 09:00
A PUBLIC servant has been penalised $1280 for sending an email to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen which did not show enough "courtesy" or "respect".
December 23, 2011
Copy of $1280 Email...
http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/12/23/1226229/423810-20111223email.jpg
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/12/23/1226229/423061-20111223bowen.jpg
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen
Department of Immigration and Citizenship officer Robin Reich sent the email to Mr Bowen suggesting he resign and comparing his management unfavourably with a BP executive during the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
“Although you’ve been in the job for only a short time, you’ve come to understand the diabolical nature of our jobs and that of the department” the September 2 email said.
“I hope you soon find a job where you don’t get problems all the time and perhaps get the chance to sail some yachts, much the same as the BP CEO Tony Hayward said he would like to do after the kerfuffle of the Gulf Oil Spill.
“Oh, and don’t worry about the mess you leave behind. There are more than 8000 people in DIAC to clean up after you. So she’ll be sweet.”
Mr Reich said he had become disillusioned with the department after working as a compliance officer responsible for detaining suspected illegal immigrants and taking them to Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney.
Documents from an internal investigation by Immigration Department staff ruled the email breached the Australian Public Service Act code of conduct.
The email: “did not treat the Minister with sufficient respect and courtesy”, was not “impartial” and was “improper use of the Department’s email system”.
Department spokesman Sandi Logan said that if a breach of the code of conduct had been found then it was entirely appropriate for the DIAC to take action - including docking pay.
But Mr Logan said he would not comment on specific cases because of privacy concerns.
A spokeswoman for the Minister told news.com.au the email had been intercepted by the department before it reached him.
“The Minister's office had absolutely no role in the investigation or resulting disciplinary action relating to this DIAC employee, as that was a matter for the department,” the spokeswoman said.
Mr Reich told news.com.au today the department had overreacted.
“It’s pretty disgusting, I’m fined for an innocuous email and that’s the same sort of amount for a DUI offence,” he said.
“He’s my boss so if I can’t give him feedback what can I say, there are people who have done worse things than this.”
Mr Reich had earlier made a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into detention centres in August which was critical of the Department and Serco, the private operator of Australia’s detention centres.
http://www.news.com.au/national/public-servant-in-department-of-immigration-fined-for-criticising-chris-bowen-and-serco/story-e6frfkvr-1226229429974
PS - Corporate Fascism & Pandering is Alive & Well (Down Under)..!
Here is just a couple of Aussie's expressing their views of the 'above' article...and (I agree with every one of them)
•Paul SA Posted at 4:35 PM Today
Hmm...... Fined for just saying as it is...now there is justice Chris Bowen does not deserve any respect nor courtesy..he is a complete failure and joke of a Minister
•James - Sydney of Sydney Posted at 4:36 PM Today
You cannot speak out against the state! LOL! Freedom of speech, and the right to express you opinion in this country is what being an Australian is about! Comrade Julia and Co. need to go! Good work Rob
•Real world Posted at 4:44 PM Today
Enough respect or courtesy, well someone has tickets on themselves, doesn't one. Has Bowen been keeping company with Belinda Neal? Getting a lot too big for one's boots and needs a real slap down. Just like Labor, to think that the sun rises and sinks just because they deem it so. The day can't come soon enough when we will see the back end of this odious alliance that masquerades as the current Government of Australia.
•Chopper of Melbourne Posted at 4:44 PM Today
Respect is earned, not automatically implied by a role, office or title. If this is the way politicians are to run the show, then parlimentary privelege must also be removed, and all minister held accountable for what they say (might stop them acting like spoilt children)
•Still Rockin of In The RealWorld Posted at 4:41 PM Today
Polititions and in partcular Ministers are below contempt at the best of times and how any decent person could summon up any respect for them at allis far and beyond my comprehension. So the poor little precious minister had a little boo hoo becaus ethe big bad compliance officer dissed him. I didn't think my loathing and contempt for pollies could get any worse and then I read another news paper article and BAM ten mor minus points. Line them all up against a wall and invest $12 of good old aussie made lead in them.
December 23, 2011
Copy of $1280 Email...
http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/12/23/1226229/423810-20111223email.jpg
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/12/23/1226229/423061-20111223bowen.jpg
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen
Department of Immigration and Citizenship officer Robin Reich sent the email to Mr Bowen suggesting he resign and comparing his management unfavourably with a BP executive during the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
“Although you’ve been in the job for only a short time, you’ve come to understand the diabolical nature of our jobs and that of the department” the September 2 email said.
“I hope you soon find a job where you don’t get problems all the time and perhaps get the chance to sail some yachts, much the same as the BP CEO Tony Hayward said he would like to do after the kerfuffle of the Gulf Oil Spill.
“Oh, and don’t worry about the mess you leave behind. There are more than 8000 people in DIAC to clean up after you. So she’ll be sweet.”
Mr Reich said he had become disillusioned with the department after working as a compliance officer responsible for detaining suspected illegal immigrants and taking them to Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney.
Documents from an internal investigation by Immigration Department staff ruled the email breached the Australian Public Service Act code of conduct.
The email: “did not treat the Minister with sufficient respect and courtesy”, was not “impartial” and was “improper use of the Department’s email system”.
Department spokesman Sandi Logan said that if a breach of the code of conduct had been found then it was entirely appropriate for the DIAC to take action - including docking pay.
But Mr Logan said he would not comment on specific cases because of privacy concerns.
A spokeswoman for the Minister told news.com.au the email had been intercepted by the department before it reached him.
“The Minister's office had absolutely no role in the investigation or resulting disciplinary action relating to this DIAC employee, as that was a matter for the department,” the spokeswoman said.
Mr Reich told news.com.au today the department had overreacted.
“It’s pretty disgusting, I’m fined for an innocuous email and that’s the same sort of amount for a DUI offence,” he said.
“He’s my boss so if I can’t give him feedback what can I say, there are people who have done worse things than this.”
Mr Reich had earlier made a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into detention centres in August which was critical of the Department and Serco, the private operator of Australia’s detention centres.
http://www.news.com.au/national/public-servant-in-department-of-immigration-fined-for-criticising-chris-bowen-and-serco/story-e6frfkvr-1226229429974
PS - Corporate Fascism & Pandering is Alive & Well (Down Under)..!
Here is just a couple of Aussie's expressing their views of the 'above' article...and (I agree with every one of them)
•Paul SA Posted at 4:35 PM Today
Hmm...... Fined for just saying as it is...now there is justice Chris Bowen does not deserve any respect nor courtesy..he is a complete failure and joke of a Minister
•James - Sydney of Sydney Posted at 4:36 PM Today
You cannot speak out against the state! LOL! Freedom of speech, and the right to express you opinion in this country is what being an Australian is about! Comrade Julia and Co. need to go! Good work Rob
•Real world Posted at 4:44 PM Today
Enough respect or courtesy, well someone has tickets on themselves, doesn't one. Has Bowen been keeping company with Belinda Neal? Getting a lot too big for one's boots and needs a real slap down. Just like Labor, to think that the sun rises and sinks just because they deem it so. The day can't come soon enough when we will see the back end of this odious alliance that masquerades as the current Government of Australia.
•Chopper of Melbourne Posted at 4:44 PM Today
Respect is earned, not automatically implied by a role, office or title. If this is the way politicians are to run the show, then parlimentary privelege must also be removed, and all minister held accountable for what they say (might stop them acting like spoilt children)
•Still Rockin of In The RealWorld Posted at 4:41 PM Today
Polititions and in partcular Ministers are below contempt at the best of times and how any decent person could summon up any respect for them at allis far and beyond my comprehension. So the poor little precious minister had a little boo hoo becaus ethe big bad compliance officer dissed him. I didn't think my loathing and contempt for pollies could get any worse and then I read another news paper article and BAM ten mor minus points. Line them all up against a wall and invest $12 of good old aussie made lead in them.