Croatian woman sues ATO over claims of racial abuse

Melbourne resident and former tax office employee Iva Ilijevski claims she suffered six years of racial abuse from her boss due to her Croatian background, alleging the ATO did little to protect her.

ATO

Source: SBS

Ms Ilijevski claims she had endured racial abuse at work from 2006 to 2012. She demands compensation of $1,250,000 the Canberra Times reports.

According to court documents, Ms Ilijevski claims that her supervisor said the following statements to her:

"Do you live in a wog double-storey house with arches and lions?"

"Do you live in a 100-square-metre home with arches and lions?"

"You have too much money."

"All you wogs would think about is money, money, money."

"All Europeans think about is money, money, money."

She was allegedly ridiculed for speaking Croatian over the phone to her non-English speaking parents at the time her father was seriously ill.

In December 2012, Ms Ilijevski took sick leave and after being diagnosed with several mental disorders was granted an invalid retirement.

The case would be heard on February 13, at the Federal Circuit Court of Melbourne.


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By Marijana Buljan

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