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A 72-year-old worker denied casual conversion wasn't "the victim of a complex conspiracy", the Federal Circuit Court has ruled, in dismissing his general protections claim.

The employer had sound operational reasons for its decision, which it tried to explain to the employee, but he was "viscerally incapable of accepting them", Judge Stewart Brown said.

The Utilities Management casual calibration technician claimed the employer took unlawful adverse action against him because of his age and because he'd exercised a workplace right to seek casual conversion.

Specifically, he said the employer: failed to convert his position into a permanent one; didn't select him for an alternative position that he was "eminently qualified for"; reduced his hours, which "effectively terminated his employment"; and illegally discriminated against him because of his age...