When Character References Collide With Workplace Values: Lessons From The Western Power Dismissals

The recent dismissal of three employees from Western Australia’s state-owned electricity provider, Western Power, has sparked a broader discussion about character references, workplace culture, and community expectations in cases involving serious criminal offending. While character references have long been a recognised part of the sentencing process, the Western Power case highlights the tensions that can arise when personal support for an offender conflicts with an employer’s commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace.

The Background

The controversy arose following the sentencing to five years’ imprisonment of former Western Power manager Jeffrey David Spinner, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a female colleague during a work trip in 2024. The court heard that the victim was heavily intoxicated at the time of the assault. During sentencing, the court received a number of positive character references for Spinner from colleagues, family members and