NT 'porn' workers get government jobs back

FIVE Territory public servants demoted for looking at porn on their taxpayer funded computers were reinstated in their old jobs within weeks. Department of Housing chief executive David Ritchie told the estimates committee last month that five staff members had faced "disciplinary action" for "improper use" of computers last year. But the Northern Territory News understands these employees were only demoted for a short time and then promoted back to their original jobs. Mr Ritchie refused to deny the claim and would not make any further comment.

He said the department needed to respect the "privacy" of its employees. "I'm sure you will appreciate and understand there are privacy issues around this and that it is an employment matter," he said. Mr Ritchie said "any disciplinary action" taken by the department was managed according to the legislation. "The department has recently provided information to the estimates committee. We have no further comment to make," he said.

But the Northern Territory News has been contacted by several Department of Housing public servants who said inappropriate use of email and the internet was "rife". "It is constant," one employee said. "I walk past the screens and I can see it on their computer." Another employee complained that the inappropriate activity took up "a large portion of their time". "(It) is bad for morale and embarrassing to other staff."

Mr Ritchie told the estimates committee last month that there were 28 reports of "improper use" of computers. He indicated the inappropriate material was intended to be a humorous email. "A lot of it is in what you would call the inappropriate use of what would be classed by some as humour," he said. He added the department was made aware of the email and tracked the material through the system, which implicated many more people.