Intersting report from here in Victoria- this has been floating aorund for a while now. It came to light some time last year and is now starting to rmap up as it goes through the tribunal.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24912310-661,00.html

A BISEXUAL former firefighter who says he was taunted with a Barbie doll and called derogatory names has launched a discrimination case.

Ken Campagnolo, 42, claims he was repeatedly called a "poofter" and bullied about his sexuality for more than 10 years by six colleagues at the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) at Mansfield.

The DSE labelled his claims as false during a preliminary hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) today

Mr Campagnolo said in his witness statement the bullying began after his boss Chris Purcell gave him a replica Barbie doll at a staff Christmas party in 1997 and made comments and rude gestures about him being gay.

The DSE has claimed the doll was a play on his name Ken.

Mr Campagnolo worked on a contract basis for the DSE from 1994 to 2006 in firefighting and forest-related areas, but never held a full-time permanent position.

He said he found dolls on his locker a number of times to taunt him about his sexuality, was repeatedly called a "poofter" and had his team of forest workers referred to as the "pink brigade".

Mr Campagnolo said he lost his contracts with the DSE because of his bisexuality and on one occasion Mr Purcell told him: "You can fight the fires for free, but you'll never get a job with the DSE because you're a poof."

Joanna Betteridge, for the DSE, said much of Mr Campagnolo's claims were false or contained little evidence.

She suggested security was needed if witnesses were to give evidence in future hearings, given Mr Campagnolo's "homicidal" rage.

Mr Campagnolo, who is representing himself, said he just wanted the harassment to stop.

"I don't threaten anybody. You can put me in shackles if you like. Let's just get this sorted. It's been 12 years," he said.

"I'm getting fired because I have to keep having to come to court to clear my name."

Mr Campagnolo said publicity about the DSE case led to him being sacked as volunteer trainer at central Victorian country football club Bonnie Doon.

He lost his case in VCAT last year when he sought compensation from the Australian Football League over his sacking.

The matter provoked a gay rights storm when former state premier Jeff Kennett backed the football club over the sacking and compared the idea of Mr Campagnolo massaging junior footballers to having a pedophile trainer.

Mr Campagnolo said the whole episode had led to him being evicted, homeless and labelled a pedophile.

The matter will return to VCAT at a date to be fixed.



Here's a link to the DSE website: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/index.htm

Here's a link to DSE's firefighting section of their website:
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/nrenfoe.nsf/Home+Page/DSE+Fire~Home+P...

And their recruitment section for seasonal firefighters:
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenfoe.nsf/childdocs/-7404AF170FE4FD...