A local Queensland mayor John Paul Lanbroek's joke about a colleague (Joe Wilkinson) being a "ranga" (Aussie slang for redhead) has instigated a full blown investigation by the Queensland Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) a local equivalent of a federal office for internal investigations.
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the office found the mayor (a councillor of east Asian origin) may have broken standards of behaviour requiring councillors to “treat people in a reasonable, just, respectful and non-discriminatory way”, to “treat fellow councillors, local government employees and members of the public with courtesy, honesty and fairness” and “have proper regard for other people’s rights, obligations, cultural differences, safety, health and welfare”.
“While the conduct may well be argued to be in jest or intended to be humorous, it was considered in assessing this matter that the term (ranga) was still capable of being discriminatory and unreasonably causing offence to particular groups,” the OIA said in its determination.
“The complaint raised various concerns about the use of the term “ranga” by the mayor, including its references to orangutans.