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May 17, 2009 12:00am
A FORMER Collingwood player who allegedly threatened to kill his child's school principal is being sued over a failed discrimination case against the Education Department.
The father took the Education Department to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in December for becoming involved in his family law case.
He lost the case and now the high-profile former player has been ordered to appear at VCAT soon as the Department seeks costs of up to $20,000 for defending his claims.
The man, who the Sunday Herald Sun has chosen not to name, said he would fight the application for costs.
He denied claims he had threatened to kill his child's principal, but did admit to a heated discussion.
He said the department discriminated against fathers when it came to disputes over custody.
"They cut my access in half for almost two years because I was not allowed to pick up my daughter from school," he said. "These are the people who are supposed to educate your kids, not take you to court."
Documents obtained under Freedom of Information show that it was the only time in the past 30 years the department had become a third party in a Family Law dispute between parents over custody of a child.
The father claims this was proof the department had unfairly focused on him.
Documents seen by the Sunday Herald Sun reveal the Education Department has spent more than $20,000 on the case.
The dispute began in February 2005 when the father received a trespass order, which prevented him going into his daughter's school.
Maria Ligerakis, an Education Department spokeswoman, said the father would be pursued for legal costs this month.
"The department takes extremely seriously its obligations under anti-discrimination legislation and is satisfied with the VCAT decision," Ms Ligerakis said.
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