Mansfield Courier

Complaints of discrimination

Written by RICHARD JAGO.

FORMER trainer with the Bonnie Doon Football Club, Ken Campagnolo,
who claimed he was dismissed from his position with the club a year ago
on account of his sexuality, is seeking to have his day in court.

The bisexual volunteer trainer and sometime firefighter has lodged
10 complaints of discrimination with the Victorian Equal Opportunity
and Human Rights Commission.

The complaints cite the AFL, the Victorian Country Football League,
the Benalla and District Football League and the Bonnie Doon Football
Club (BDFC).

Mr Campagnolo is seeking formal apologies and the opportunity to
clear his name, which he believed has been tarnished by his dismissal
as a trainer.

A complaint against the Department of Sustainability and Environment
(DSE) relating to Mr Campagnolo’s claimed inability to regain
employment with the organisation on account of his sexual orientation
is before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

An article in the Mansfield Courier in April last year started a
train of interest in Mr Campagnolo’s case, including the attention of
several leading lights.

Local politicians, Sophie Mirabella (MHR, Indi) and Kaye Darveniza
(Member for Northern Victoria) expressed interest in the case, the
latter forwarding the correspondence to Attorney General Rob Hulls.

Former Victorian premier, Jeff Kennett, called both Mr Campagnolo
and president of the BDFC, Terry Dale, in an attempt to mediate, but
without result.

When approached by the Mansfield Courier this month, Mr Dale said he
was unaware of any complaint lodged with the Victorian Equal
Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and declined to comment.

The AFL has a detailed member protection policy designed to provide
a working environment where all employees are treated fairly and
equitably and are not subjected to unlawful discrimination or sexual
harassment.

But when the the Mansfield Courier asked the AFL legal department
last year whether any action arising from the allegations was
contemplated, it was advised that no action would be taken.

Mr Campagnolo has claimed publicity surrounding his departure from
the BDFC and public statements by the DSE have meant he has been unable
to obtain work of any kind in the district and is now close to losing
his house.

When quizzed about his intentions in raising the complaints, Mr
Campagnolo said he wanted to have his name cleared from any
presumptions within the public arena that may disparage his character.

"It is illegal in Australia to sack a person because of his
sexuality - I’ve given them 12 months to do something - they’ve done
nothing and now I want action," he said.

"But I don’t want to see the BDFC hurt in any way - I’d rather
not seek compensation from the club, it’s the AFL and VCFL that set the
rules."

Mr Campagnolo is being assisted with legal representation by
country-based philanthropist, Robert Mitchell, who has set up a trust
to assist people who have suffered sexuality-motivated discrimination.

Mr Mitchell said he wants to see discrimination in rural clubs
reversed by following the very successful AFL anti-racial
discrimination model.

"The AFL needs to expand this model to stop discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation too," he said.

"It requires leadership to achieve this.

"The ‘A’ in ‘AFL’ means everyone gets a fair go - that’s the Australian thing."