Optus, the second biggest telecom firm in Australia, noted that it preferred candidates who are Anglo Saxon and who live nearby its Sydney store. The job posting was for a retail assistant.
"Fantastic opportunity for those seeking a career in retail and sales," the ad read. Optus quickly removed the ad and issued an apology after being bombarded with complaints. It told CNN the ad had been up for about eight hours.
"This is an error and completely unacceptable and a clear breach of our advertising standards and our commitment to equal opportunity," said Vaughan Paul, vice president of human resources. "We...will be investigating how this occurred with a view of taking disciplinary action against those involved, and offer an unreserved apology."