MAGA hat man considers complaint to Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

The man at the centre of a MAGA cap stoush is considering making a complaint to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, after the state’s political leaders backed his right to wear the cap.

The man at the centre of a MAGA cap stoush is considering making a complaint to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Angelo Notta, 45, was celebrating a friend’s birthday at Captain Baxter on Australia Day when he was approached by the manager and told to remove his hat, claiming it was “inciting political trouble”.

The popular St Kilda venue has refused to address the controversy or apologise to Mr Notta.

Now, Mr Notta has revealed he is considering taking the matter further to see whether the venue has a case to answer.

In Victoria it is against the law to discriminate against a person because they support, or don’t support, a certain political party.

But legal experts have warned it’s a “grey area”.

Captain Baxter has refused to address the controversy or apologise to Angelo Notta. Picture: Supplied

Mr Notta said he is preparing to seek legal advice and will consider contacting the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

“I’m still pissed off … I do feel singled out,” he told the Herald Sun.

“You can’t discriminate against people. I feel I was discriminated against.”

The Herald Sun has approached both Captain Baxter and its parent company Melbourne Hospitality People on multiple occasions seeking comment.

Requests for comment have gone unanswered, but on Tuesday afternoon a Captain Baxter employee said the company would not provide any comment about the incident.

Brad Battin says asking the man to take his hat off was a form of discrimination. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Notta, a regular patron of Captain Baxter, said he was “so disappointed” by the venue’s silence.

He said he hoped for an apology from the venue and an indication that he’d be welcomed back.

“And a free bottle of Rose,” he laughed.

“It’s a shame because I’ve been having a ball there. That place was like my Cheers. I was like Norm (Peterson).”

Captain Baxter, on its website, has boasted that it’s a place “free from discrimination, where we respect and celebrate the diversity of our communities”.

Captain Baxter says it is a place “free from discrimination”. Picture: Supplied

Mr Notta was asked to remove his MAGA cap at St Kilda’s Captain Baxter. Picture: Supplied

On Tuesday, both Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin have come out in support of Mr Notta’s right to wear the hat.

Mr Battin said it was “of course” a form of discrimination.

“You should be able to wear a hat … that is not offensive. Anyone that says that a MAGA hat is offensive, I think has some concerns for themselves,” he said.

“MAGA in my terms is make Allan go away … Maybe he was wearing it in there because he’s sick of Jacinta Allan.”

Ms Allan said people should be free to wear whatever hat they like, but said the decision to force Mr Notta to remove the hat was ultimately up to the venue.

“There’s certain hats I don’t agree with, certain hats I do agree with,” she said.

“I do believe in freedom of expression. If someone wants to wear a hat, that’s a matter for them.”

Originally published as MAGA hat man considers complaint to Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission