The Greens' candidate for Bega said he has been told he no longer has employment as a casual teacher, until an inquiry into a complaint made against him has completed.
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Earlier this month, Will Douglas appeared alongside Labor's Leanne Atkinson and the Liberals' Andrew Constance at a youth forum in Moruya to discuss issues facing the electorate.
He said at the conclusion of the event he stated to the youths: "And please don't forget March 15 the climate strike… so if there's something happening at your school will you please get online and register because there's a whole community out there wanting to support you guys, young people, in that strike".
Speaking on Wednesday, March 13, he said he had been advised by the principal of Moruya High School, where he has been working as a casual teacher, that as a complaint had been made against him following the forum he would not be offered employment again until the internal complaints investigation over the issue had been finalised.
While he said the process had been "handled very professionally" by his school, he still had not been shown a copy of the complaint or been given a transcript of what he allegedly said.
“The forum was not on school grounds, I was invited as a candidate and was not there as a teacher," Mr Douglas said.
"I never claimed to be there as a spokesperson for the Department of Education and had informed the school of where I was going and why."
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said political candidates needed to be able to speak out without their job being threatened, which was especially important for public sector workers like teachers.
"I'm astounded a candidate, in his own time, speaking about climate change, that's been used to prejudice his employment," he said.
"At the same event Andrew Constance was on a public salary three times Will's, running his political agenda. That's not right."
In a statement, a NSW Department of Education spokesperson it would be inappropriate for the department to provide comment on the employment status of an individual teacher.
"NSW public schools are considered neutral places for rational discourse and objective study," they said.
"While the department understands students may be passionate about a range of issues, all students who are enrolled at school are expected to attend that school whenever instruction is provided.
"Staff members providing advice contrary to departmental policies may be subject to allegations of misconduct."
In response, Mr Douglas said he was not providing advice, but was providing information and he "certainly" did not incite students to strike.
He said the School Strike 4 Climate on Friday, March 15 was an opportunity for youths to show their disapproval with their political representatives and adults in society about how climate change has been handled.
"This is not fiction, this is fact," he said.
"It's high time politicians at all levels started listening to the science and not the large businesses donating to their political re-election."
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
