Security guard fired for anti-coal sign: Brisbane woman Kym Garrick banned from Port of Brisbane job over 'Coal Dust Free' car sticker

Updated

The Port of Brisbane has banned a security guard for displaying an anti-coal industry sign in her car.

Kym Garrick's employer Corporate Protection Australia Group fired her from her job at the port earlier this month, telling her it was because she displayed a sign that read "Coal Dust Free Brisbane".

Ms Garrick said she was warned about the sign by staff at the Port of Brisbane and initially removed it, then changed her mind and put it back.

"I felt angry, frustrated and belittled. Also, this is a democracy and I wanted to have my say on something that I truly believe should happen," she said.

The security guard has now been banned from all five of the Port of Brisbane's sites.

I was ruffling their feathers with the sign in my car. Because of that, it's got nothing to do with my performance as a worker, I'm now unemployed. Kym Garrick

In a letter to Ms Garrick, Corporate Protection Australia Group said: "We acknowledge you did remove the sign, but recently returned to site with this sign displayed again. The Port of Brisbane have advised us that you are unfortunately banned from their sites."

A spokesman for the Port of Brisbane said the company would not be making any comment on the issue.

Corporate Protection Australia Group confirmed Ms Garrick was no longer working for the firm. A spokesman said she was removed from work at the port due to a security risk.

Ms Garrick reacted angrily, saying: "They don't want anyone to ruffle their feathers."

"I was ruffling their feathers with the sign in my car. Because of that — it's got nothing to do with my performance as a worker — I'm now unemployed," she said.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Brisbane security guard sacked over car sticker (7pm TV News QLD)

Ms Garrick's home backs on to the main train line that carries coal into the Port of Brisbane.

"If I have to do a load of washing and it's whites, I have to have that done on the day. Otherwise I bring them in and you can see the glisten of the coal," she said.

Clean Air Queensland community organiser Michael Kane described the situation as a joke.

"This is all because she has a sign in her own car? She's a perfectly respectable person. It would be hilarious if it wasn't true and it wasn't so serious," he said.

The security company has offered Ms Garrick another contract to work at a different site, which she has declined.

She has received legal advice that because of that offer, her chances at winning an unfair dismissal claim are slim.

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Topics: industrial-relations, activism-and-lobbying, coal, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted