Witch to sue local mayor
By Liam Houlihan
May 11, 2004

VICTORIAN taxpayers will foot a $50,000 bill so that a transgender "witch" may sue a suburban mayor for outing her.

Olivia Watts, a male police officer and practising witch, will test Victoria's unique religious tolerance legislation.

Free legal work, tribunal fees and a solicitor and barrister were believed to have been given to Ms Watts by Victoria Legal Aid.

Several top barristers were angered by the use of scarce Legal Aid funds, but Attorney-General Rob Hulls gave his OK to a similar case.

"We govern for all Victorians - and that includes witches, magicians and sorcerers," Mr Hulls wrote to the Pagan Awareness Network, which is also suing the mayor of Casey, Rob Wilson.

Ms Watts said she became "an emotional wreck" after Mr Wilson outed her as a witch in a press release and on community radio. She was taking Mr Wilson to the anti-discrimination list of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in August.

In her witness statement, Ms Watts stated she had practised her craft since she was six years old.

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