Hate book led to loss of TCC job

A FORMER Townsville City Council employee who was suspended for six months after leaving an incendiary book at work claims free speech is at risk if same- sex marriage legislation is passed.

Willem Engelbrecht was the subject of a serious misconduct investigation by the council after leaving a book in his workplace lunchroom with his business card and name written inside.

The book, Correct not Politically Correct — How same- sex marriage hurts everyone by Frank Turek, argues strongly against same- sex marriage. Mr Engelbrecht said he inadvertently left the book in the council lunchroom on the morning of September 16 last year.

Another council employee found it and a complaint was made, sparking months of legal wrangling that eventually led to downgraded misconduct charges and a suspension from the council.

According to the council, the book contained material that was considered to incite hate and have a serious contempt for or to severely ridicule others on the grounds of their sexuality.

Mr Engelbrecht has since accepted a voluntary redundancy.

Now he is warning that reading an alternative opinion against the mainstream views on same- sex marriage could result in legal action.

“Legalising same- sex marriage will not only undermine the very essence of what marriage is all about, a union between a man and a woman in order to raise well- adjusted children, but will severely impact our right to have an alternative opinion or even to debate an alternative opinion,” Mr Engelbrecht said.

A Townsville City Council spokesman said during mediation with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission it was agreed that Mr Engelbrecht had engaged in misconduct by leaving inappropriate material in the workplace.