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VIC - Other RRTA casesThere have been a number of complaints made under the Victorian Racial and Religious Tolerance Act. Here are some of them... David Oldfield – 'Muslim Terrorist' website
David Oldfield, then an MP in the NSW Legislative Council for One Nation, had been involved in a website called www.muslimterrorists.com He had contributed some funding to the setting up of the website, which was hosted overseas. The website was linked from the One Nation website.
In 2003, a Muslim lawyer form Coburg, Victoria, Hisam Sidaoui, made a complaint to the Equal Opportunity Commission under the RRTA. He contended that the website vilified Muslims and sought an apology and compensation!
The case was not reconciled at the EOC and Mr Sidaoui took the case to VCAT. Although listed for a full hearing, the case was settled at mediation with Mr Oldfield agreeing to change a couple of statements on the website and make an 'apology'. Mr Oldfield said it wasn't an apology - more a 'clarifying statement'. Read ABC PM interview from August 2003. Read the media report about the settlement of the dispute.
Rob Wilson - Councillor for the city of CaseyA complaint was made against Rob Wilson by Olivia Watts and the Pagan Awareness Network following a statement made by Mr Wilson in a media release, in June 2003. In the media release he noted some attacks in Casey, he mentioned a satanic cult and asked “Casey’s church leaders to consider calling a Day of Prayer”.
Olivia Watts was a local self-proclaimed witch who had been previously featured in the local paper talking about witchcraft. She claimed this media release vilified her.
The complaint was unresolved at the EOC and Olivia Watts took the case to VCAT. Mediation at VCAT was unsuccessful and a hearing was held on 11 May 2004. |