Seven bosses have been branded bullies after winning another court bid to silence a former employee for revealing “lewd” emails in a workers’ compensation claim.
Television journalist Amelia Saw has launched a claim against Seven in the Federal Court alleging she experienced a “hostile work environment” while working on its flagship show Spotlight.
But Seven obtained a court order preventing details of the case from being made public.
“They want to silence the media and they want the details of what happened to be kept secret,” says a source close to the case. ‘You have to wonder why they are so worried.
“Amelia is more than willing to resolve this whole matter and her lawyers have been pushing for it to happen.
“She won’t be intimidated by them and wants to hold them accountable.”
The suppression order applies to an amended statement of claim which the court heard contained “large blocks” of “potentially lewd communications”.
Saw brought her claim last month under the Fair Work Act, alleging Seven’s flagship current affairs program created a hostile work environment for women.
The Seven Network is seeking to suppress “lewd” emails included in a workers’ compensation claim brought 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.
Judge Nye Perram had previously ordered Saw and Seven to enter mediation next month.
Lawyer Kate Eastman SC, for the network, said last week that making the document public ahead of a court-ordered mediation could hurt prospects of resolving the case.
But Philip Boncardo, representing Saw, described Seven’s actions as “extraordinary and unprecedented”.
Last week, Eastman said Saw had a “right to be heard” but that publishing her full claim before mediation would put Seven in an “extremely difficult position” and lead to “one-sided” comments in the media.
After Saw launched her claim, a Seven spokesperson said: “Seven Network strongly and categorically rejects Amelia Saw’s allegations as reported in the media today.”
When Judge Perram asked Mr Boncardo why Saw wanted his claim made public, he said there was no “strategic benefit” but the suppression order was unnecessary.
Boncardo said that while some of the relevant material might not be advantageous to Saw, the network maintained it could be “humiliating, degrading and embarrassing” to Seven.
“The only thing that is going to be made public are accusations,” Boncardo said.
“(We are) confident that the public understands the distinction between a mere accusation and a determination of fact.”
Spotlight’s reputation was first tarnished when producer Taylor Auerbach claimed that Bruce Lehrmann had been supplied with drugs and prostitutes in exchange for his explosive exclusive interview about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.
Saw worked for Spotlight for around a year in 2022 and his claim is understood to name several high-profile Siete journalists. Seven is yet to file a defense to its claim.
Saw’s legal action comes after a difficult year for Seven and the Spotlight programme.
His reputation was tarnished when producer Taylor Auerbach claimed that Bruce Lehrmann was given drugs and prostitutes in exchange for giving an exclusive and explosive interview about Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.
Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn eventually resigned from the network, although both he and Seven denied Lehrmann’s claims.
Llewellyn is not alleged to have supplied the drugs or the prostitutes.
More recently, veteran reporter Robert Ovadia was sacked after Seven told the court that allegations of inappropriate conduct had been made against him.
Ovadia then launched proceedings against Seven for unfair dismissal, but later dropped his legal action due to the cost and “emotional toll” involved.
The network’s problems were compounded when ABC’s Four Corners investigative program delved into Seven’s culture.
Female employees described it as a “toxic” and “heartbreaking” work environment.
Veteran reporter Robert Ovadia was sacked after Seven said in court that allegations of inappropriate conduct had been made against him. Ovadia denied the allegations.
One journalist claimed he jumped in front of a moving car after suffering “crippling” anxiety, while another called Seven one of the most “degrading” workplaces.
Former Channel Seven news presenter Sharyn Ghidella was one of 150 Seven West Media employees made redundant in July.
He watched the Four Corners investigation and admitted he had seen problematic behavior during his 17 years at the network.
“I saw it, it was information I already knew,” he said.
The investigation’s revelations prompted an apology from CEO Jeff Howard.
‘If any of the issues you raise were not adequately addressed, that disappoints me; “We should have done better and for that I feel sorry for those affected,” he wrote.
Howard said Seven’s management is reviewing workplace policies and culture over some of the issues raised on the network.
“Several individuals who have displayed behavior that does not reflect SWM’s values have already been removed from the organization,” he wrote.
“I want to be very clear that the actions of some individuals do not reflect the values, behavior and attitude of the company as a whole, which is home to some of Australia’s best, hardest-working and most passionate media professionals.”
