Italian chef Davide Tamburella was unable to challenge his dismissal from La Costa restaurant in Brisbane, Australia, which occurred after he refused to make a pizza with ham and pineapple, ABC News reported.
The Australian Fair Work Commission rejected his application because it was submitted after the deadline.
Tamburella was dismissed from his job on May 20, 2026, following a meeting with management during which concerns about his work were discussed. Among these was his refusal to make a pizza with ham and pineapple for an event's guests. The chef explained that adding pineapple to pizza is an insult to Italian culture. According to the commission, within four years he had refused similar requests three times.
However, this incident was not the employer's only grievance. Management also cited inappropriate expressions of emotion, issues with communicating with colleagues, conduct in serving guests, and failure to follow instructions. Restaurant owner Elliott Ingram stated that the decision to dismiss was due to several factors, although the dispute around the pizza influenced it.
Tamburella also claimed that his dismissal may have been related to a workplace injury; in April, he had broken two bones in his right hand while at work. He asked the commission to allow him to file the complaint after the deadline, explaining the delay by health issues, stress, and his concerns about his immigration status.
According to regulations, an application to dispute dismissal must be submitted within 21 days. Tamburella contacted the commission 28 days late. Commissioner Jennifer Hunt decided that the circumstances presented were not exceptional enough to justify extending the deadline. At the same time, the commission has not made a final decision regarding all the allegations related to the dismissal.
The La Costa restaurant was subsequently closed. Tamburella has found work as a chef at another Italian restaurant.
