Queensland Council Worker Reinstated to Old Job after Gambling Affair

Following council worker’s dismissal for gambling during work hours, he was brought back to his old position after hearing.

An employee known as Chipper Mark Moorhead, a keen mobile casino player, won his old job back at Moreton Bay Regional Council. He initially lost his position as park maintenance employee after it was discovered that he and other four council workers went to TAB (Totalisator Agency Board) to gamble, while they were meant to be working.

As the group was coming out from the Kippa-Ring TAB, a council supervisor caught them, which resulted in the initial job loss.

They claimed to the supervisor that they have been to the bank, however Mr. Moorhead could not handle the heat and admitted that they’d actually been gambling.

Queensland Industrial Relations Commission assisted Moorhead

Gambling news report that after his sacking, Moorhead decided to submit a complaint about the issue to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.

The Commission came to a conclusion that Moorhead was threated rather harshly by his employer. In addition, Moreton Bay Regional Council argued that Moorhead and others would often partake in such activities during work time, however they were unsuccessful in their appeal.

Eventually, the Commission concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to support the claim, while taking into consideration Moorhead’s good record and promise to follow the code of conduct in the future.

The Commission's verdict was, “The commission is of the view that with appropriate supervision and in light of the commitment made by Mr Moorhead, that trust and confidence in the employment relationship is capable of being restored.”