Former Nine News sports presenter Warren Tredrea will rely on evidence from Professor Nikolai Petrovsky in unfair dismissal case

Former AFL player and Nine News Adelaide sports presenter Warren Tredrea will rely on the evidence of a local vaccine developer in his unfair dismissal case against the broadcaster.

Warren Tredrea’s case against Channel 9 will go to trial later this month.

Former AFL player and Nine News Adelaide sports presenter Warren Tredrea will call controversial SA vaccine maker Professor Nikolai Petrovsky as a key expert witness in his unfair dismissal case against the broadcaster.

Prof Petrovsky will face off against Associate Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious diseases expert called by Channel 9, over the efficacy and risks of Covid vaccines in a five-day trial due to begin later this month.

Tredrea was dismissed from his $192,500/year job at Channel 9 last year after he refused a direction to get the vaccine in order to come to work.

He is arguing that the direction was unreasonable based on his understanding of the Covid virus and vaccines, including the risk of adverse vaccine reactions.

But lawyers for Channel 9 say the direction was reasonable in light of the circumstances and the knowledge of Covid and vaccines at the time, including the medical advice available.

Warren Tredrea claims he was unfairly dismissed over his refusal to get the Covid vaccine. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

Prof Petrovsky and Associate Prof Griffin have already provided expert reports and the court last month heard an application to have them give oral evidence at the same time during the trial. That would mean the two experts are effectively asked the same questions and can respond directly to each other.

Prof Petrovsky, director of endocrinology at Flinders Medical Centre, has been critical of Covid vaccines approved for use in Australia by the federal government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

He founded vaccine development company Vaxine, which designed a jab called Covax-19 – but it has not been approved by the TGA.

Prof Petrovsky was called as a key witness in a landmark judicial challenge of vaccine mandates brought by nurse and AFLW player Deni Varnhagen.

In that matter, he told the SA Supreme Court that vaccines do not stop Covid transmission.

Varnhagen’s action was dismissed by the court – as was a later appeal.

Documents released by the Federal Court when Tredrea’s case was launched last year showed he claimed he was unlawfully dismissed from his position and should be paid out the remaining $176,458 of his contract as well as up to 30 years of pay for the missed opportunity of employment – at least $5.775m.

Professor Nikolai Petrovsky was called to give evidence in a legal challenge launched by Deni Varnhagen. Picture Dean Martin

His dismissal followed a formal direction from the company on October 15, 2021 that employees must show proof of Covid vaccination in order to work onsite.

The time limit for Tredrea to comply was extended to January 4, 2022.

A statement of claim released by the court showed Tredrea did not comply and was fired on that day in a letter from Adelaide news director Jeremy Pudney.

The claim showed he was demanding damages of breach of contract or, as an alternative, compensation as an independent contractor for loss of the remainder of his contract.