Perpetrator fired
'Myths and misinformation is a popular tool for antisemites. These people need to know that Queenslanders don't want their propaganda, ignorance and hatred'
A QUEENSLAND traffic management employee has had their employment terminated after displaying an antisemitic conspiracy theory on an electronic message board on a truck last week.
A woman driving in Kanimbla, a suburb of Cairns, reported last Friday seeing the sign reading “Jews did 9/11”.
Sean Fitzpatrick, the general manager of A20 Traffic Solutions, the traffic control company that owns the truck, told The AJN that the company was “completely and utterly shocked by finding out through the media that one of our vehicles and one of our staff members had such a message displayed.
“We did a very thorough investigation using our tracking systems as well as our VMS boards, [the electronic board on the back of the vehicles] to ensure that there was no ability for remote access or any faults which may have prolonged the display of the message,” he said.
Fitzpatrick shared that it has since been found out that it was one individual’s actions only and they were terminated on Monday “for gross misconduct, for breaches of policies and racial hatred laws”.
“We obviously unreservedly apologise to anyone to whom we’ve caused offence and can only stress that the actions of one individual is definitely not a reflection on how our company dictates itself or feels,” Fitzpatrick said.
President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD) Jason Steinberg said the incident shows both “ignorance and deep hatred against Jews”.
“Myths and misinformation is a popular tool for antisemites. These people need to know that Queenslanders don’t want their propaganda, ignorance and hatred,” he added.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich called it a “brazen act of antisemitism”.
“Hateful conspiracy theories and myths that fan the flames of hostility and incite violence against the Jewish community have no place in Cairns,” he said.
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