Harassment in library case

A LIBRARY patron who accused a council employee of sexual harassment actually spent months bothering the librarian, including knocking on his car window while stopped at traffic lights

Alexandar Gorgievski also followed the librarian to a police station and yelled at him to pull over, it is detailed in Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal documents.

The incidents came to light after Mr Gorgievski made a complaint of discrimination and harassment following the Gold Coast City Council implementing a six-month ban against him at a city library. The saga started in 2019 and led to a two-year legal battle.

Mr Gorgievski wanted more than $200,000 for what he claimed was discriminatory treatment. Last month, QCAT ruled in the council’s favour.

Documents published this week detail how legal dealings started in 2019. Mr Gorgievski claimed he was sexually harassed by the librarian between January-october 2019.

Documents outline complaints to include staring into

Mr Gorgievski’s eyes in 2019, the librarian nodding at him, walking past him slowly and the librarian looking at his legs.

The documents stated on October 25, 2019, the pair had a short conversation where the librarian asked to hang out. When the man declined, the librarian allegedly said, “OK, I’ll see you later”.

It is stated the librarian denies making any proposition.

During a trial, the librarian gave evidence the man had tried to meet privately and kept saying: “I know you like boys.”

Security asked Mr Gorgievski to leave for 24 hours.

The documents stated: “Mr Gorgievski’s evidence at hearing is that staring, nodding and smiling are acts understood by a gay person to be acts of sexual interest from another person.”

QCAT acting senior member Ann Fitzpatrick said: “The acts complained about are acts of ordinary civil interaction between people.”

Documents indicate the incident on October 25, 2019, was the beginning and Mr Gorgievski was then banned.

According to the decision, the librarian gave evidence the man knocked on his car window while he was stopped at traffic lights with his wife and children. A video played to QCAT showed Mr Gorgievski saying: “I need to talk to you about the library. Do you want me out of your life? I am going to get you fired.”

It is stated he tried to enter the library again on November 5 and 25, and December 20, 2019. He followed the librarian in his car, blowing his horn, on November 20, 2019. The librarian drove to a police station with Mr Gorgievski following. When the librarian stopped, the man yelled: “I want to talk to you. Do you want to be alone forever? Is that what you want?”

Member Fitzpatrick wrote Mr Gorgievski’s “conduct was so unreasonable, harmful and disproportionate that he is not a credible witness in relation to any assertion of facts which differs from the evidence of (the librarian) and (the council)”.

It is stated the man was abusive and accused staff of corruption. He claimed the council discriminated against him as a gay man, but Member Fitzpatrick ruled the same treatment would have been given to anyone.