A Maori Niuean man working for a Rainbow Beach tour company was given a canister labelled ‘Black Guy Repllent’ [sic] by his colleagues when he asked for sunscreen, he claims.

Mr Tupetagi says he was given this canister when he asked his employer for sunscreen.

The incident was just one alleged example of ongoing workplace racial vilification that the man, McDuff Tupetagi, is claiming forced him to take sick leave for mental distress and anxiety, and made him feel “like an unwanted creature or pest”.

In a statement of facts lodged in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission this week, Mr Tupetagi said at his work he was frequently made the butt of jokes and referred to as “the black fella”.

Mr Tupetagi is now suing the Fraser Island tour company and two of its employees for discrimination.