Mayweather banned
ALISON: “I was a former employee at City Hall for 11 years and can attest to the bullying culture there. I was bullied more than once by senior staff and even staff at lower levels and nothing was ever done. Good work Addy for shining a bright light on the dark vortex that is local government!” PETA: “I watched it happen with so much regularity while employed there. Bullying is ‘a systemic, entrenched and pervasive part of the culture at the City of Greater Geelong’. It’s seen as FUN! A pastime, a hobby and a way of life for some long-term staff.” ROBIN: “I spent over seven years working for COGG and was bullied out of a position I worked at well and shifted into a corner and given no work to do. That’s the basics, there is too much more to tell. I resigned in the end and walked away with no gag order from them, as that actually beat them. I received no long service leave, a broken spirit and mind. I had given my all for that organisation and the people of the community. They even bullied me out of being a Meals on Wheels Volunteer.” JOHNO: “I worked at the COGG for 10 years and witnessed a really bad assault while at work one day in 2013. The victim made a formal complaint and I gave a witness statement supporting his account. I wanted to report the matter to police but I was discouraged from doing that. The perpetrator was suspended on full pay for a while but came back and I think he’s still working at the City now. It’s a real boys’ club and basically they just want to make things like that go away.” TONY: “I worked at council for more than 11 years, before resigning a year-and-a-half ago after being bullied. I went on WorkCover but was told by the City it would be better if I resigned before things got messy. I was sworn at and called a wog every day at work. I saw many examples of bad behaviour — including drink driving and gambling on work time — being swept under the rug.” FAYE: “My partner was harassed and bullied at COGG for a period of three years. As a result he collapsed in a heap, took time off only to be strongly encouraged to work with the perpetrator once again. He felt he had no choice but to follow the council’s direction and guess what? No action was taken against the perpetrator (who incidentally had a long history of similar behaviour), so the harassment and bullying covertly started again. This resulted in my partner having to transfer to another department, being traumatised again and he still suffers flashbacks which continue to distress him.” THE world’s highest paid athlete, boxer Floyd Mayweather, has been banned from Australia because of his criminal history, which includes domestic violence.
The undefeated American professional boxer was scheduled to arrive in Melbourne today for a series of dinners and nightclub appearances.
But Australian authorities denied Mayweather’s application for a visa hours before he was due to get on a plane.
Campaigners against domestic violence had lobbied to have him barred from Australia as he had served time in jail for assaulting a former partner in front of their children.
In an attempt to have his visa approved Mayweather last week promised to donate money from his Australian tour to local charities for homeless people and Aboriginal children.
Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash confirmed: “A visa has not been granted in this case.”
Mayweather’s Sydney publicist, Max Markson, yesterday said Mayweather would appeal against the ruling and a private jet remained on standby to bring the boxer and his entourage to Australia.
“I am still confident he will come to Australia,” Mr Markson said.