The Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) found Kylie McKelvie was fired because of her union involvement.

Ms McKelvie, a casual worker, and the union were told the reason she suddenly had no shifts was because she did not have a full driver’s licence.

The IRC has

recommended an internal investigation into the Orana Juvenile Justice

management’s conduct, especially as to why the

commission itself was lied to over the reason for Ms McKelvie’s sacking.

Geo Papas from the NSW Public Service Association said the union first realised something was wrong when it found a file note alluding to an eavesdropped phone

conversation between Ms McKelvie and another party.

The note said Ms McKelvie had said she would not be at the centre for long, and that she would cause as much trouble as she could.

“It was an overheard

snippet of conversation, and suddenly she’s the most

dangerous person in the centre,” Mr Papas said.

The IRC noted she had not appeared to cause any

trouble after that point.

“Kylie came to town under a banner as a union

spokeswoman,” Mr Papas said.

“We were quite shocked because we were led to believe the reason for

her dismissal was the fact she didn’t have a driver’s licence.

“But that didn’t add up - because when she applied to become a juvenile justice youth worker, they knew she was on her red Ps.

“And she was successful on the strength of her application.”

The union is calling for a complete inquiry into the Orana Juvenile Justice Centre.

“There needs to be a

thorough inquiry into the management practice at the Orana Juvenile Justice

Centre,” Mr Papas said.

“This is illustrating the issue out there at Orana - it has exposed something that goes wider than just Ms McKelvie.”

IRC deputy president Peter Sams called Ms McKelvie’s dismissal last August “harsh, unreasonable and unjust”.

And he said Orana Juvenile Justice Centre

manager Janet Curran had “embarked on a course of deceit and cover-up to hide the fact that Ms McKelvie had been dismissed and to avoid giving the reasons for her dismissal”.

The Department of Juvenile Justice is considering an appeal.

lynton.grace@ruralpress.com