Coles contractor embroiled in racist job ad row

Supermarket giant Coles is at the centre of a row after an ad for cleaners at one of its stores in Hobart stipulated no Asians and no Indians.

Coles says the ad was placed by a sub-contractor, who is now no longer working for the supermarket chain.

It appeared on the free classifieds website Gumtree, and called for experienced staff to clean the Coles supermarket at Hobart's Eastlands Shopping Centre.

It included a list of requirements - that the applicant must have their own transport and licence, and importantly, it says the store requires "no Indians or Asians... please".

Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner says she is investigating the ad because it seems to be in breach of the law.

But Stephen Fong, the secretary of the Chinese Community Association of Tasmania, says he thinks someone made a "terrible mistake".

Mr Fong migrated to Australia more than 40 years ago and says things have changed for the better in that time.

"I just think it's probably our ignorance rather than wilfully," he said.

"It's a well-known fact that Australia is the multicultural society and racism is well published and that people soon behave in that manner."

A spokesman for Coles says the advertisement was placed by a subcontractor, who in turn works for the contracting company that manages the cleaning of the store, in the suburb of Rosny.

The supermarket giant says the ad was placed without Coles' knowledge, and that the company was extremely concerned to learn of the ad and its contents.

Cedric Manen is chief executive of Hobart's Migrant Resource Centre, which helps migrants and refugees get job-ready.

"It's actually against the law to advertise like that and I don't think it works towards creating a cohesive and multicultural society here in Hobart," Mr Manen said.

"I think one of the things that would set employers in good stead is to learn of the journeys that some of these people have had and the strengths that they've collected along the way and looking at those strengths and how they could actually make a difference to them in the workplace."

Potential damages

Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, has launched an investigation into the advertisement.

"It's clearly racially discriminatory and in a very important area of life for many people - the opportunity to work," she said.

Ms Banks said she was surprised when she read the ad, but that she knows racism happens.

"It's why we need to be alert to speak out about it when we see it quite so overtly," she said.

"The risk is that this is a very overt indication of somebody intending to discriminate, but I guess it's possible also that there are people who apply the same filter but don't advertise that they're going to do that."

Ms Banks says anyone who feels discriminated against by the ad could lodge a complaint and potentially fight for an apology and damages from both the advertiser themselves, and the publisher of the ad, Gumtree.

"Under anti-discrimination law in Tasmania it's unlawful to advertise or publish or to display or cause or permit an ad to be published," she said.

"So in this case Gumtree may have some liability."

A quick search of the Gumtree website reveals this is not the only advertisement that seems to discriminate.

Discrimination is apparent in more job ads, as well as ads for share housing.

Gumtree declined our request for an interview.

Instead, corporate communications manager Nat Thomas issued said the website takes its content very seriously and relies on cutting-edge technology, a full time customer service team as well as a "red flag" button which community members can use to alert the site about inappropriate ads.

Coles says the sub-contractor in question is no longer working for the company as a result of the incident.

It says the cleaning contractor will be re-trained to ensure it follows Coles' policy around equal opportunity and non-discriminatory employment.

Source: ABC News, 29 August 2012