Prince Alfred College retains former judge and ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander to mediate ex-student’s racism lawsuit
07.07.2026
An elite private school will foot the bill for a highly-respected ex-judge to mediate its ‘monkey stickers’ racism case – but a key detail may torpedo the process before it begins.
Sean Fewster Chief Court Reporter
The state’s first anti-corruption watchdog has been called in to resolve the Prince Alfred College “monkey stickers” racism case – and the college will foot the bill for his involvement.
On Tuesday, lawyers for the college told the Federal Court that former judge and ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander KC had been retained to mediate its dispute with an ex-student.
They said the college maintained the student had not suffered ongoing bullying, harassment and racial vilification on its grounds, but wanted to resolve the matter without a trial.
Greg Griffin, for the student and his family, welcomed the college’s willingness to pay – but said its reticence to hand over key documents meant the mediation was likely to fail.
“The college has undertaken an investigation into the circumstances, there is a report, and that’s as (relevant) as any other document that could possibly be in existence,” he said.
“That is the sort of document we expect to be provided with, if this mediation is to produce anything with utility.
“In my experience with Mr Lander, he’s going to require full and complete disclosure before we embark upon the nuts and bolts of this mediation.
“Even in the hands of someone as experienced and capable as Mr Lander, mediation is a bit like dancing with your sister if you don’t have documents – it just goes nowhere.”
The ex-student, who is a rising star basketballer, and his family, allege the college did not protect him from his classmates’ racial slurs and “unlawful racial discrimination” by staff.
That included an incident, they allege, in which his locker was covered with monkey stickers that had been given to students as part of a mental health symposium.
They further allege that, when they complained, a senior staffer said the student should “stand up for himself” instead of “being a victim like” Goodes.
The college has denied the allegations, insisting Mr Goodes was mentioned as “an example of why the harm of racism has to be repeatedly taught” to children.
On Tuesday, Mark Hoffmann KC, for the college, said his client’s willingness to mediate did not suggest any change in its position.
He said the college had communicated with the 13 students named in the ex-student’s lawsuit, and their parents, and “all of them deny the alleged conduct”.
“Suffice to say the allegations of systemic and ongoing bullying, harassment and use of racially vilifying language are vigorously denied,” he said.
“Our case is there’s no record of that until (the alleged monkey stickers incident) … beyond that, there’s no record in the school’s record of anything to that effect.
“The records do show extensive communication with (the ex-student’s) parents around their son’s failure to attend school … 25 days one semester, 26 the next.”
Mr Griffin said such claims did not advance the case, saying: “If you are being racially vilified every day you go to school, of course you don’t want to go to school.”
The mediation, before Mr Lander, will take place next month.
