Ten reporter says she worked in sexually demeaning hostile workplace
Network Ten reporter Tegan George claims she was subjected to a “sexually hostile, demeaning and oppressive” workplace.
She also claims management treated her less favourably than her male counterparts.
The allegations form part of an updated Statement of Claim filed recently in the Federal Court.
Ten reporter says she worked in hostile workplace
George worked as a political reporter in Ten’s Canberra bureau between 2019 and 2021.
Her lawyer Josh Bornstein claims in court documents that as a result of the problems she experienced in the workplace, she suffered hurt, humiliation and distress.
He also claims she lost income and has been unable to advance her career.
Lawyer Josh Bornstein says Tegan George suffered hurt, humiliation and distress as a result of the problems she experienced in the workplace. Lawyers Weekly
Peter van Onselen
The documents state that the network’s former political editor, Peter van Onselen, has continued to tweet about George.
This is despite knowing that she had been in hospital with serious mental health issues.
It included a series of tweets in 2022 between van Onselen and former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
After praising the Canberra bureau for their work he said he would love to catch up with his colleagues for coffee while in Canberra.
Higgins replied, “Honestly, you’ve made your point. Enough with the coffee barbs”.
George claimed van Onselen regularly had informal coffee meetings with her colleagues without inviting her.
‘Peter does not give a shit’
The documents also allege Network Ten’s executive editor Anthony Murdoch dismissed George’s concerns about her workload in February 2020.
He allegedly told her: “What, do you need Peter to come down here and hold your hand?”
Borstein claims these comments conveyed that she was “incapable of performing her duties” and “lacked the maturity to properly perform her duties”.
The documents also allege that Mr Murdoch asked political reporter Amber Austin-Wright on February 27, 2020, whether George was taking leave because she was pregnant and said to her:
“Ms George ‘needs to sort this out and apologise because Peter does not give a shit’ about how Ms George is feeling.”
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‘Taken a lot of sick leave’
George also claims Ten’s network editor of news content, Ross Dagan, in a meeting with her on September 9, 2020, told her she “had taken a lot of sick leave” and he wanted to know where she was “genuinely sick” or “unhappy”.
The documents go on to say, “Ms George said she had a genuine illness that was being treated”.
The matter before Justice Judith Katzmann continues.
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