BREAKING NEWSSevens bullyboy tactics slammed as network wins new gag on Spotlight journos blockbuster allegations
Seven bosses have been branded bullies after they won another court bid to silence a former staffer from revealing salacious emails in a workplace compensation claim.
Seven bosses have been branded bullies after they won another court bid to silence a former staffer from revealing salacious emails in a workplace compensation claim.
TV journalist Amelia Saw has filed a statement of claim against Seven in the Federal Court alleging she experienced a hostile working environment while working on its flagship Spotlight program.
But Seven has won a court order suppressing details of the case from being made public.
They want the media gagged and they want the details of what happened kept a secret, says a source close to the case. You have to ask yourself what they are so worried about.
Amelia is more than ready to break this whole thing wide open and her lawyers have been pushing for that.
She wont be bullied by them and wants to hold them accountable.
The suppression order applies to an amended statement of claim which the court heard contained large slabs of potentially salacious communications.
Saw filed her action last month under the Fair Work Act, alleging Sevens flagship current affairs program created a hostile working environment for women.
The Seven Network is seeking to suppress salacious emails included in a workplace compensation claim made by one of its former journalists. Amelia Saw Saw worked for Spotlight in 2002 and her claim is understood to name several high-profile Seven employees
Justice Nye Perram had previously ordered Saw and Seven engage in mediation next month.
Barrister Kate Eastman SC, for the network, last week said making the document public before court-ordered mediation might impact the prospects of settling the case.
But Philip Boncardo, acting for Saw described Sevens actions as extraordinary and unprecedented.
Ms Eastman last week said that Saw had a right to be heard but releasing her full claim before mediation would put Seven in an extremely difficult position and result in one-sided media commentary.
After Saw launched her claim a Seven spokesman said: Seven Network strongly and categorically rejects the allegations by Amelia Saw as reported by media today.
When Justice Perram asked Mr Boncardo why Saw wanted her claim made public he said there was no strategic benefit but the suppression order was unnecessary.
Mr Boncardo said while some of the relevant material might not be advantageous to Saw, the network contended it could be humiliating, demeaning, embarrassing to Seven.
All that is going to be publicised is allegations, Mr Boncardo said.
[We are] confident that the public understands the distinction between a mere allegation and a finding of fact.
Spotlights reputation was first tarnished when producer Taylor Auerbach claimed Bruce Lehrmann had been supplied with drugs and prostitutes in exchange for his bombshell exclusive interview about Brittany Higgins rape allegations
Saw worked for Spotlight for about a year in 2022 and her claim is understood to name several high-profile Seven journalists. Seven is yet to file a defence to her claim.
Saws legal action comes off the back of a tough year for Seven and the Spotlight program.
Its reputation was tarnished when producer Taylor Auerbach claimed Bruce Lehrmann was supplied with drugs and prostitutes in exchange for giving a bombshell exclusive interview about Brittany Higgins rape allegations.
Spotlights executive producer Mark Llewellyn eventually resigned from the network, though both he and Seven denied Lehrmanns claims.
Llewellyn was not alleged to have supplied the drugs or prostitutes.
More recently, veteran reporter Robert Ovadia was sacked after Seven said in court that allegations of inappropriate conduct had been made against him.
Ovadia then commenced proceedings against Seven for wrongful dismissal but later dropped his legal action due to the cost and emotional toll involved.
The networks problems were compounded when ABCs investigative Four Corners program delved into Sevens culture.
Female employees described it as a toxic and soul-crushing work environment.
Veteran reporter Robert Ovadia was sacked after Seven said in court allegations of inappropriate conduct had been made against him. Ovadia denied the claims
One journalist claimed she jumped in front of a moving car after being left with crippling anxiety, while another labelled Seven one of the most degrading workplaces.
Former Channel Seven newsreader Sharyn Ghidella was one of 150 Seven West Media staff made redundant in July,
She watched the Four Corners investigation and admitted she had seen problematic behaviour during her 17 years at the network.
I did watch it, it was information that I already sort of knew about, she said.
Revelations from the investigation prompted an apology from CEO Jeff Howard.
If any of the issues they call out werent appropriately addressed, that disappoints me; we should have done better, and for that Im sorry to those affected, he wrote.
Mr Howard said management at Seven are reviewing workplace policies and culture about some of the issues raised at the network.
A number of people who have displayed behaviour not reflective of SWMs values have already been removed from the organisation, he wrote.
I want to be really clear that the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behaviour and attitude of the business as a whole, which is home to some of the best, hardest working and most passionate media professionals in Australia.
