Australian firm Optus apologises for ‘Anglo-Saxons preferred’ job ad

Australia’s second-largest telecommunications firm has apologised after one of its stores sent out a job advert seeking “Anglo-Saxon” staff.

The open position as a retail consultant at an Optus mobile phone store in Neutral Bay, “on Sydney's affluent lower north shore”, appeared on recruitment website Seek on Thursday, Perth Now reports.

The listing describes the role as a “fantastic opportunity for those seeking a career in retail and sales”, with “awesome benefits”.

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However, the ad also specifies that the “preffered” [sic] candidate for the post would be “Anglo-Saxon”.

By Friday morning, the ad had been removed - but screenshots of the jaw-dropping specification had already gone viral after being shared by a Twitter user:

Optus, which employs around 8,000 staff, has distanced itself from the ad, which it calls “unacceptable” and “a clear breach” of the company’s advertising and equal opportunity standards.

In a statement on Friday, human resources vice president Vaughan Paul said the company “proudly supports diversity and employs staff representing more than 70 nationalities”.

“We will be investigating how this occurred with a view to taking disciplinary action against those involved.”

CWU, the union which represents Optus workers, said it was astonished that the “racist” advert had been allowed to go public.

“It's looking to exclude certain individuals from even applying for a job based on their ethnicity,” CWU spokesman Greg Rayner told the ABC.

“It's unbelievable in this day and age that an ad such as this would even see the light of day. It shouldn't be happening, it's ridiculous.”