SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Public service tweeter goes to Fair Work

Former public servant Michaela Banerji, who lost her job over tweets critical of the government, is pursuing the matter with the Fair Work Commission.

twitter_100616_B_getty_1309597750
(Getty)

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

The case of a public servant sacked over tweets critical of the immigration department will head to Fair Work Australia.

Michaela Banerji lost her job in the public affairs section of the immigration department after tweeting comments critical of government asylum seeker policy and the department. She made the comments under the pseudonym @LaLegale.

Ms Banerji had launched an appeal against a decision not to stay her sacking, but on Wednesday she withdrew that Federal Court action.

The case will instead go to a conference at the Fair Work Commission in November.

Ms Banerji said she was pursuing the matter to foster a discussion about the treatment of public servants making comments in a private capacity.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"So many people do not get an opportunity to air these things, to bring these things into the open," she told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

She believed that if her sacking was upheld, that effectively meant any public servant could face dismissal if they criticised their departments in their own time.

"It seems that the government is making an example of me," she said.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world