An Australian supermarket's cleaning firm has sparked outrage by posting an advert for staff that stipulated: "No Indians or Asians please."

The advert, posted on the Gumtree website, appealed for cleaners at a Coles supermarket in Hobart.

The authorities say they are investigating for race discrimination.

Coles, Australia's second-biggest chain, said the advert was posted by a sub-contractor who was no longer connected to the company.

The firm said the advert had been placed without its knowledge,

"We were extremely concerned to learn of the ad and its contents," Coles spokesman Jim Cooper told the Hobart Mercury.

"Coles is a proud, equal-opportunity employer and at no time have we ever issued the directives contained in this ad. We have made these points in no uncertain terms to the cleaning contractors in question."

Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Robin Banks said she had launched an inquiry into the advert.

She said both the contractor and the Gumtree website could have broken the law.