Melbourne reject dud John Buonopane sues RMIT after 12 years of failed job applications

A Melbourne dud who abused RMIT staff after his latest job rejection has demanded the uni employ him or pay out compo.

John Buonopane sued RMIT for human rights discrimination.

A Melbourne man barred from applying for RMIT jobs after he abused staff has sued the university for breach of human rights.

John Buonopane fired off a tirade of emails to RMIT recruitment staff after his latest job application was rejected in January last year.

Buonopane, who has applied for countless RMIT jobs without success for the past 12 years, has demanded the uni give him a job or pay him a “sum of money”.

Buonopane sued the university for human rights discrimination after he was informed his email had been blocked and he was barred from applying for any future positions.

Buonopane claimed RMIT rejected his various job applications based on his age and nationality, VCAT heard on Friday.

Siobhan Kelly, for RMIT, said Buonopane was barred and blocked because of his “deeply offensive” and “abusive” emails.

“These communications could variously be described as rude, contemptuous, emotional, unprofessional, abusive and wholly improper,” Ms Kelly said.

“They were communications which exposed RMIT employees to improper conduct.”

Ms Kelly read excerpts of Buonopane’s emails including a tirade sent to a senior uni talent acquisition adviser.

“The (RMIT) reputation is worthless … your title of senior talent acquisition adviser is such delicious irony I cannot imagine anyone in more desperate need of acquiring some talent.”

The talent adviser responded to Mr Buonopane.

“Apologies for the delay in responding but I have been carrying your words around with me and I have been contemplating how best to reply,” the adviser said.

“I understand recruitment processes are often frustrating and disappointing and can lead to feelings of deflatement especially when there were no clear reasons why you weren’t selected …”.

Buonopane fired back with another email.

“I care not for any of your fake, insincere apologies and I have no interest in anything you carry, how you carry it, why you carry it or even whether you carry on,” Buonopane said.

“I surmise any delay in response is more likely to be due to the fact it took you an eternity to figure out how to send an email …

“Your miserable and paltry attempt to respectively justify your actions only serve to highlight your failures.

“It was a chore to grimly ingest your stilted and awkward writing style with its atrocious grammar to go with the droning dribble and spin of those of your ilk specialise in all designed to prop up your vacuous puffed and hollowed-up ego …

“The only insight you have managed to provide by your pittling and putrid pretext in your plea for absolution is just how lazy and neglectful you are in your duties.

“The fact that you get paid for your slack performance is a disgrace, its demonstrably obvious that all my applications to RMIT have been treated with contempt and you hold me in disdain …

“Furthermore, in any further contact, you will refer to me as Mr Buonopane and adopt a far more civil, respectful and professional communication style.

“I would also add that your signature block and footer is just virtue signalling and tokenistic worthless dribble and serves only to serve your delusions …”

RMIT talent manager Paul Martin informed Mr Buonopane he would not be considered for future job applications after his email tirade.

“Your email demonstrates that your attitude, values, judgment and maturity are fundamentally misaligned with our organisation and we do not envisage employing you in the future …,” Mr Martin said via an email.

“I respectfully ask that you refrain from contacting staff at RMIT.”

Mr Buonopane told the tribunal RMIT wanted to create a “straw man”.

“They wanted to attack the straw man …,” Mr Buonopane said.

“For the past 12 years I have repeatedly applied for jobs at RMIT and I don’t get so much as a phone call … and I’ve been receiving the same generic templated rejection letter and I just felt that my applications weren’t being taken seriously.”

Mr Buonopane “rejected entirely” his emails were “abusive”.

“Now I admit they are mocking and sarcastic, even derisory in tone, I don't think they’re anymore derisory or sarcastic or mocking than what have been made in the parliaments of this country or what we can read in national newspapers,’’ he said.

“I don’t think, whatever they're called these days, the recruitment people are doing their job properly, I don’t think I’ve been given a fair go.”

Mr Buonopane also asserted RMIT had a preference to employ “only overseas workers”.

Ms Kelly submitted Mr Buonopane’s “manifestly hopeless” application was “bound to fail” and should be dismissed.

VCAT member Ian Scott will deliver his decision at a later date.

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