Seven seeks suppression order on Spotlight case brought by Amelia Saw
Channel 7 is so worried about the damaging allegations levelled against its controversial Spotlight program by a former journalist that it has asked a judge to suppress the details of her case.
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Channel 7 is so worried about the damaging allegations levelled against its controversial Spotlight program by a former journalist that it has asked a judge to suppress the details of her case.
The Saturday Telegraph can reveal lawyers for the troubled network on Friday submitted an application to suppress the entire statement of claim lodged in the Federal Court of Australia by ex-employee Amelia Saw.
Ms Saw launched legal action against Seven this month under the Fair Work Act, claiming the controversial Spotlight program — the subject of allegations in the Federal Court it had traded drugs and sex workers for stories — was not a safe workplace for women.
The former journalist has filed what is understood to be an explosive statement of claim with the court.
It is also understood the statement names several high-profile Seven employees as allegedly engaging in behaviour that would further damage the network’s reputation.
The statement of claim was set to be made public on Friday but Seven lodged its suppression order application on the same day. Justice Nye Perram has now set a date for the suppression order to be argued.
Ms Saw worked for Spotlight for about a year in 2022 before moving to a NSW government public relations job.
According to documents released by the court, Ms Saw alleges Seven committed a “serious contravention”, and multiple other breaches, of National Employment Standards.
The standards relate to compulsory employee entitlements, like maximum weekly work hours.
She also claims Seven breached a section of the act that protects an employee from “adverse action” for exercising a “workplace right”.
Ms Saw has asked the court to issue financial penalties against Seven for the alleged breaches that are payable to her, and for a court order for Seven to pay her compensation, the documents said.
Ms Saw launched the case on September 6. Seven is yet to file its defence.
Last week, Justice Perram ordered the parties into mediation in an attempt to avoid a fiery and expensive courtroom showdown.
If the matter does go to a full hearing, it has the potential to drag Seven into yet another damaging court hearing.
The network became a casualty of Bruce Lehrmann’s failed defamation case against Channel 10 when former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach gave bombshell evidence that Lehrmann was given cocaine, sex workers and other inducements in exchange for an exclusive interview in 2023.
The network has also been dealing with the fallout of its sacking of star reporter and presenter Robert Ovadia, who sued Seven for wrongful dismissal. He then withdrew the case, citing as the reason the financial and emotional toll of the lengthy court battle
Seven claimed it had complaints from 13 women about Ovadia’s behaviour. Ovadia strongly denied the allegation.
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