The chief economist of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Burchell Wilson has been stood down before an investigation is held into his alleged offensive Facebook posts.
The lobby group's CEO, Kate Carnell, said she had been made a aware of a number of offensive, derogatory and completely unacceptable Facebook posts allegedly made by Mr Wilson.
Ms Carnell, a former Liberal chief minister for the ACT, said she has directed Mr Wilson to stand down from his position pending a thorough investigation.
"This is a matter we are taking very seriously," she said in a statement on Thursday.
ACCI is providing Mr Wilson with an opportunity to respond to the allegations before any further action is taken.
The Australian newspaper said the complaint laid against the chief economist alleges he attacked a rival lobby group and federal Treasurer Joe Hockey on his Facebook account.
It says these included derisive or sneering comments about refugees, the disabled and Muslims, and a post describing Mr Hockey as a "fat bastard" whose biography was tedious.
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