'I had a bit of a chuckle to myself': Councillor who sent a racist email to his colleagues comparing Aboriginals to dole-bludging criminals is suspended
- Kevin Parker was suspended after sending a racist email to 21 colleagues
- The email described a story comparing Aboriginals to criminals who didn't work
- He was suspended from Bank of Queensland after email surfaced on Wednesday
Kevin Parker was suspended from his role at the Bank of Queensland after staff became aware of the email on Wednesday
A councillor has been suspended from his day job as a banker after emailing colleagues a racist story comparing Aboriginals to criminals who refuse to get a job.
Kevin Parker was suspended from his role at the Bank of Queensland after staff became aware of the email on Wednesday.
Mr Parker, who is also a Councillor for the Dubbo Shire Council, sent the email to at least 21 colleagues.
The email described a fictional movie titled 'Jet Black', an Aboriginal take on the story Snow White, featuring seven dwarfs by the names of 'Dealer, Stealer, Mugger, Carjacker, Shoplifter, Drinker, Bludger', NITV reported.
'The world's first aboriginal version of SNOW WHITE... has been put on hold due to an industrial dispute,' the email read.
'All seven Aboriginal dwarfs, Dealer, Stealer, Mugger, Carjacker, Shoplifter, Drinker, Bludger, have walked off the set.
'After refusing to sing the HI Ho song. All 7 are insisting they have no F***ing intention of singing ITS OFF TO WORK WE GO.'
Mr Parker acknowledged he had sent the email and said it had been from a Facebook post.
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'I do admit that I did send it on, I did get it off the Facebook and it was certainly no malice meant,' he told the ABC.
'When I first saw it I just had a bit of a chuckle to myself, sort of light humour… I didn't think there was any malice in it.
'I don't see it as being racist and it wasn't meant to be racist, it was just something I forwarded on.'
Mayor of the Dubbo Region, Ben Shields, said the email was 'disturbing'.
Mr Parker has been suspended from his role at the Bank of Queensland after the email surfaced
'A copy of an email sent by a Councillor from a non-Dubbo Regional Council email account has been forwarded to me,' Councillor Shields said in a statement.
The contents of the email are disturbing and absolutely do not align with the values of myself or Dubbo Regional Council.'
Deputy Mayor, Stephen Lawrence, said the community deserved better.
'The community, especially Aboriginal people, are entitled to expect better from elected representatives,' he wrote on Facebook.
'I want to say sorry as a Councillor for the conduct of my fellow Councillor. I hope he does what needs to be done.'
The Bank of Queensland said an investigation is undergoing.
'The employee involved has been suspended while BOQ conducts a full investigation into the matter,' a spokesperson said.
'BOQ has a strict Code of Conduct and does not condone or accept behaviour that falls below the community, and our own, expectations.
'This incident does not reflect how BOQ aspires to treat our First Nations People and we offer our sincerest apologies.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Parker for comment.
Mr Parker also worked as a Councillor at the Dubbo Regional Council with Mayor Ben Shields labelling the email as 'disturbing'
