Former Spotlight journalist files lawsuit against Seven
A former journalist from troubled TV show Spotlight has launched legal action against the Seven Network, claiming a “general breach of protections”.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Amelia Saw filed the suit the Federal Court of Australia on September 6, with Justice Nye Perram on Friday ordering Seven and Saw to enter into mediation from November 1, despite the network’s barrister, Vanja Bulut, arguing against such a move.
“Prior to the proceedings being commenced there were attempts to reach resolution and that was not useful,” Bulut told the court.
Saw’s legal team has a week to provide a more detailed statement of claim, while Seven will be required to file a defence by October 18.
Saw then has until November 1 to respond to Seven’s defence.
Mumbrella has reached out to Seven for comment.
The news comes just days after Seven reportedly issued a legal letter to TV production company Endemol Shine Australia over a ‘hold back‘ on Big Brother, after it was announced earlier this week that Network 10 would reacquire the popular reality TV show which it first launched back in 2001.
It also comes hot on the heels of a recent Four Corners investigation of Seven’s workplace culture, in which Joshua Bornstein, principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn said the “brutal workplace culture” at the network was the worst he’s seen in 25 years.
“Here’s why I say that. I mean,” Bornstein told Mumbrella after the broadcast.
“I see some very bad situations, but this is just uniquely bad because the women are often employed when they’re very young. They’re often similar. They present in a similar way. They’re often blonde and attractive, inexperienced, relying heavily on promises and sponsorship, quote unquote, of powerful men.
“They work extremely long hours — I would argue illegal hours of work in breach of the Fair Work Act. They are often sent to sites of terrible trauma, you know, car accidents, disasters, shootings, decapitations. It’s where there’s a high risk of vicarious trauma.
“The bullying is vicious and unapologetic and overt. And then the sexual harassment and discrimination is just overt and very nasty. And it produces this cocktail that’s just incredibly harmful to mental health. And eating disorders are common. And women ending up suicidal is common. I just haven’t seen that combination in such a graphic, powerful way in other workplaces.”
In early June, Maurice Blackburn put out a call to women in the commercial television industry who have been affected by sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination: “We believe that there may be many other women who have been affected, either by witnessing such conduct or by experiencing it. If you have information that could assist our clients, or if you wish to get advice about your own experience, please contact us.”
A Seven Network spokesperson told Mumbrella: “Seven Network strongly and categorically rejects the allegations by Amelia Saw as reported in the media today.”
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