A librarian who claimed he had been unfairly dismissed by the City of Armadale because of his political beliefs has had his case thrown out by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
The tribunal found that the complaint lodged by Declan Mansfield was “frivolous, vexatious, misconceived, lacking in substance, is being used for an improper purpose and is otherwise an abuse of process”.
Mansfield initially lodged a complaint with the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity against his former employer, claiming he had been forced to resign from his position as a Library Circulation Clerk because of alleged discrimination on the grounds of age, family responsibility, family status, impairment or disability, political conviction, race, religious conviction, sex and sexual orientation. He also alleged racial harassment and victimisation.
Mansfield worked at the library for 13 years before tendering his resignation in October 2023. The Equal Opportunity Commissioner dismissed the complaint as “lacking in substance”. His legal team subsequently sought a review before the SAT.
When the matter came before the tribunal, the complaint was revised and narrowed to claims of discrimination on the basis of political conviction in employment and victimisation. Mansfield argued he had faced victimisation because of his political beliefs after initially refusing to attend mandatory workplace training on equity, diversity and inclusion.
Mansfield told his employer he held a political belief that prevented him from undertaking the training. He later described those views to the Equal Opportunity Commissioner as “moderate centrist political views”, which he said included rejecting “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion … and other pseudo-anti-discrimination law movements”.
Although Mansfield later attended the training, he also wrote an article outlining his objections on a political website. A series of workplace disagreements with colleagues subsequently led to disciplinary action. After receiving a written warning from the City of Armadale, he resigned from his position.
In proceedings before the tribunal, Mansfield argued he had effectively been dismissed because of his initial refusal to attend the training. Writing in The Spectator, Mansfield also said he had been targeted because, in his view, he had refused to accept what he described as “transgender ideology”.
The case attracted support from the Free Speech Union of Australia, which launched a fundraising campaign to assist Mansfield. In a video published by the organisation, Mansfield said he believed some staff members were hiding gender-critical books and argued that he had been unfairly accused of bullying another staff member.
“It’s going to be a revelation when it goes to trial,” Mansfield said in the video, adding that he believed the matter would have national significance.
However, the tribunal ultimately dismissed the complaint, finding it to be frivolous, vexatious and lacking in substance.
OUTinPerth has contacted Declan Mansfield, the Free Speech Union of Australia and the City of Armadale for comment.
