Union chief Kim Sattler allowed to keep her job - The Daily Telegraph

Kim Sattler at Unions ACT Headquarters in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph

EMBATTLED union chief Kim Sattler has been allowed to keep her job after weeks of contradicting statements from her over her role in triggering the Australia Day controversy.

Unions ACT president Bob O’Neill today said Ms Sattler had the full support of the union to stay on as secretary after fronting a three-hour meeting of the executive this morning discussing the scandal.

The meeting in Canberra came after explosive video footage emerged this week showing Ms Sattler telling protestors at the Aboriginal tent embassy Opposition Leader Tony Abbott wanted to pull the site down.

The revelations undermined Ms Sattler’s claims she had only told the protestors that Mr Abbott had said it was time to “move on” after being tipped off about his location by Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s office.

Ms Sattler has detailed several different versions of events since January 26 – including initially denying any involvement – as Ms Gillard relied on her testimony to support her version of events.

Her contact, including text messages, with Ms Gillard’s press secretary Tony Hodges, who resigned over the affair, is now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.

But in a 10-second press conference following the meeting today, Mr O’Neill said in a brief statement that Ms Sattler had the executive’s full support.

“Unions ACT is fully cooperating with the ongoing AFP investigation into the incidents of Australia Day,” he said.

“Given there is an ongoing investigation, Unions ACT will give no public comment until the AFP investigation has concluded.

“At today’s Unions ACT executive meeting a full and detailed discussion of the complex issues relating to the events surrounding Australia Day occurred. Following those discussions, the executive has determined that secretary Kim Sattler maintains the support of Unions ACT.”

Mr O’Neill and Ms Sattler refused to answer questions before going back into their offices.

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