‘I'm a fan': Sacked street sweeper who won unfair dismissal case throws support behind Pauline Hanson as Labor, Liberals ‘often too similar'
Last week, it was revealed Mr Turner was dismissed by Darebin City Council in June 2024 for questioning why an Acknowledgement of Country was being introduced at a toolbox meeting involving the street cleaning team.
Mr Turner, who has since stood by his decision to challenge his employer at the Fair Work Commission, has called himself a 'fan' of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, describing the Labor and Liberal parties as 'often too similar'.
Speaking to The Australian on Thursday, Mr Turner said he was a 'fan' of Senator Hanson because of what she has gone through and what she says.
'People will throw the racist word at her, but she goes: 'No, I look after Australians, not the illegals that come into it',' he said.
The street sweeper said Senator Hanson had gotten a 'bad rap' over the years, but he would have voted for One Nation if a candidate had run in his electorate.
Mr Turner said he voted for the Coalition in the recent election, and liked former leader Peter Dutton, but did not hold the current leader Sussan Ley in the same regard.
Asked about Ms Ley's acknowledgment to country at the start of her National Press Club speech last month, Mr Turner said he was 'shattered'.
'Why start with that? You're only Opposition Leader. Tell us what you're going to do in regards to cost of living,' he said.
'Sussan Ley is talking about getting women in, but she got rid of some good women, Jane Hume and Sarah Henderson, as soon as she got in, and pushed them to the backbench.'
Mr Turner, who is approaching retirement age, has sought a full reinstatement and another commission hearing will be held to determine further remedies.
However, he told The Australian he was considering 'moving on' and parting ways with Darebin City Council.
Mr Turner said his injured shoulder affected his ability to work, which left his options open, including whether he goes down the 'compensation route' to 'move on with life'.
'Until we meet in mediation, or until we go back to court, I'm really at an unknown but I think I will probably have to find something else to do,' he said.
Earlier this week, Mr Turner spoke to Sky News and was asked jokingly if he was racist for objecting to the Acknowledgement of Country and whether he had a problem with Indigenous people.
'It's a pretty easy word to throw at someone that you're racist. You look at someone different and they'll just come back with: 'You're a racist',' he said.
'No, I'm not racist. My niece is actually Aboriginal and she's got three beautiful boys and one wild daughter. So I have no problems with Aboriginals.'
Mr Turner said growing up in Broadmeadows he would play football with a 'great family of Aboriginal boys' and became good friends with one of them.
He said this friend had become his brother-in-law and had "ended up with my sister".
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