A high school teacher in the Australian Capital Territory has lost a legal case in which he argued that being called "Mr Baldy" by pupils and colleagues amounted to sexual harassment and workplace bullying. A judge dismissed his claim, ruling that the nickname was a comment on his baldness rather than his sex, and did not meet the legal threshold for harassment or discrimination. The case highlights the limits of anti-bullying and harassment law when it comes to comments about physical appearance rather than protected characteristics.

The teacher had sought to have the case treated as sex-based discrimination, reasoning that baldness predominantly affects men, but the judge rejected this argument, finding no evidence the remarks were made because of his sex rather than simply his lack of hair. The ruling was reported as delivering a blunt rebuke of the teacher's reasoning, effectively closing down his attempt to seek redress through the tribunal system. The decision leaves the teacher without recourse over the nickname, which he had said caused him distress at work.