In a video published by a pro-environmental advocacy group, a Bortelle Fisheries manager was seen pushing a child in a wheelchair and asking him to sit on a bench.
“This is not an accident,” said the manager, a man in his 30s.
“We’re doing this because this is the right thing to do.”
The video has been viewed more than 2.6 million times since it was posted on YouTube on Monday, and is likely to be one of the most discussed stories in Australian politics in the coming days.
The man, who appears to be from Bortella, was identified as Tony Leung, the head of the Bortells fisheries unit.
Leung has been the director of the unit since December 2016.
In the video, the manager is seen pushing the child in the wheelchair, asking him if he can sit on the bench.
The child, in his early 20s, cannot stand.
“If you want to be the boss, you have to sit, right?” he says.
“You’re the boss.
This is a child.
You’re the only one here.
Sit down, sit down.
I’ve seen this kid.
He’s not even a child.”
The manager is heard saying that the child has a disability and needs to be moved to a wheelchair.
“What’s your problem, son?
Why can’t you sit?
It’s like a handicap.
I just want you to sit down,” he said.
The manager’s comments come days after the Queensland Government announced it would stop paying the B&B fisheries company to manage the Queensland Great Barrier Islands.
The company is one of Queensland’s largest seafood companies.
In a statement to ABC News, B&s Seafood said the comments were “unacceptable” and the company was committed to supporting the wellbeing of Queenslanders and the Great Barrier, which has been hit hard by the bleaching of coral and bleaching event, which caused the death of more than 30 reef animals.
“The comments by Mr Leung do not reflect our values and the behaviour that he has exhibited is unacceptable,” the company said.
“We have made it clear to him that we do not agree with the comments and that he will not be allowed to continue working with B&ams in the future.”
The Queensland Government said it was taking the incident very seriously and it was looking into the matter.
“It is a matter for Queensland Police to investigate,” a spokesperson for Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.ABC News has reached out to B&ing Seafood for comment.