This article about racist comments and racism has been supplied by Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal.
Question: Our onsite manager makes racist comments during meetings of lot owners. I find this racism very inappropriate from a manager running a complex with many different nationalities.
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Approximately 2 years ago we bought a unit in a beautiful building on the Gold Coast.
We feel the onsite manager’s behaviour is inappropriate and racist.
During meetings attended by approximately 25 people from our building he publicly makes racist comments about how he does not like “members of other nationalities coming downstairs to eat their noodles and play on the web.” He also regularly refers to other nationalities overusing common property areas and resources such as the internet and shower facilities around the pool area.
I am a member of another nationality. I bought a unit here and I’m paying my quarterly levies like all owners. Am I not an equal member of the community? Isn’t this racist? I find this racism very inappropriate from a manager running a complex with many different nationalities.
Answer: Racism is not acceptable in any form. But for me, this is one of evidence.
Racism is not acceptable in any form. But for me, this is one of evidence.
Inevitably if no one else witnessed the behaviour it becomes a game of ‘he said – she said’.
Some statements from others not involved would be helpful and then I think it is a matter of making a formal complaint to the body corporate about the behaviour to see whether it changes.
Have a question about racist comments or racism in your building in QLD or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read more:
- QLD: Removing a terrible Caretaker – Terminating Management Rights. VIDEO
- QLD: Q&A Freezing Levy Payments to Protest Bad Service
- QLD: Bullying in Strata! Some Committees are Extremely Unreasonable
This post appears in Strata News #311.
Frank Higginson
E: frank.higginson@hyneslegal.com.au
P: 07 3193 0500
W: Hynes Legal
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Similar experience where I live on Gold Coast . Fortunately the manager has now sold however our body corporate remain and were not helpful at all . As a Bodycorp committee they are only interested in wine and cheese nights.
Yes, we have a Caretaker who makes the same types of demeaning and belittling comments. In later 2019, our Caretaker saw me walking to my hot-water meter and said, ”Oh there she is going to her metre dressed like a 4-year old.” I had my yoga gear on and I know it is none of his business what I wear. However, I noted that the Chair and his wife were with him when he made those comments and they all appear to be friends. What does one do about this?
Hi James
We’ve received this response from Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal:
The Act can only go so far. It cannot stop people from being rude, so you need to treat them the same way as if the person was your neighbour in suburbia. Which really means unless there are threats of violence or something like that, you simply have to ignore it.
When our caretaker first joined our complex he asked, ”I suppose you’ve met all the old farts?” This comment and his behaviour is indicative of the esteem in which he holds the Owners in the complex. These types of caretakers need to be booted out, or never let in in the first instance. But unfortunately, attitude tests are not part of the approval process for assigning managerment rights.