AUSTRALIA: Discrimination tribunal hears Virgin Blue age case

ABC NEWS May 9, 2005: The Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal has begun hearing the case of eight women who feel they were discriminated against when they applied for positions with Virgin Blue. The lawyers for the women have argued that in the two years after Virgin Blue was launched in 2000, only one woman over the age of 35 was employed by the airline. The eight complainants, aged between 35 and 56, say they were rejected at the selection stage of the selection progress because Virgin Blue favoured younger women. They say this is validated by a number of other older women who were also rejected at the early stages of the recruitment process, despite their extensive experience. The women are claiming economic loss as a result of being rejected by the airline. Virgin Blue's defence counsel says they were rejected at the assessment stage, which looked at teamwork, communication, assertiveness and Virgin Blue flair. They say age was irrelevant and not considered by assessors. The case continues.