AFL boss ‘OK’ with secrecy of Fremantle sexual harassment complaint accused
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he’s “comfortable” with the identity of a Fremantle figure embroiled in claims of a sexual harassment “cover up” being kept secret.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said there was a “wide series of options” to settle sexual harassment complaints, when asked if it was appropriate to make payments to victims.
The league’s chief executive was grilled in Perth on Friday about the handling of a complaint against a Fremantle Dockers official.
He did not deny that a payment had been made to a former Dockers staffer who accused the senior club figure of propositioning her in a Fremantle bar.
MORE HERALD SUN NEWS: MEASLES CASE ON QANTAS FLIGHT
CROWN FINED $300K OVER POKIE TAMPERING
OUR RICHEST, POOREST AREAS REVEALED
When asked if payments to victims of sexual harassment would be in line with the league’s Respect and Responsibility Policy, McLachlan replied: “A core part of that policy is actually resolving the issue between the complainant and the person they are making the allegation against.
“Part of the policy is for it to be confidential and there is a wide view, a wide series of options of getting a resolution without making any comment on what’s happened at Fremantle.”
McLachlan earlier said he was “comfortable” with the identity of a Fremantle figure embroiled in claims of a sexual harassment “cover up” being kept secret.
McLachlan was grilled on the simmering Dockers case on 3AW on Friday morning.
Host Neil Mitchell put to McLachlan that the allegations “tarnished” all those at the Western Australian club.
McLachlan replied: “Yeah, I’m OK with that.”
“If that’s your assessment, I don’t agree, but I’m OK with that even if you’re correct, to honour what has been a difficult situation and an investigation by our department that says we are comfortable with what’s happened.”
Fremantle is refusing to answer questions about an alleged payment made to a former junior staff member.
The woman came forward late last year with claims she had been sexually harassed by the Dockers figure at a Fremantle bar several years ago.
The club referred the complaint to the AFL integrity unit and the league confirmed last week its investigation had concluded with no sanctions handed down, amid claims the woman had been paid off.
Veteran Perth journalist Kim Hagdorn has since said the sexual harassment investigation had turned into a “cover up.”
Asked this morning if he had any involvement in the Fremantle investigation, McLachlan said: “I have visibility and a remit across a lot of things Neil and I don’t think its appropriate for me to comment on that beyond the fact that in terms of our integrity department it’s not been an issue for us to make comment on.”
Pressed again on whether the club official involved should step forward to reveal himself and take heat off his fellow employees, McLachlan said: “Well, that’s a view. And in the end the priority in all these issues is the complainant and prioritising her health and well being and obviously the person with the allegation.
“And then the priority of that is a resolution from the complainant and getting to the bottom of the issue and that’s what’s happened here.”
McLachlan also dismissed comments made by David Koch, Port Adelaide’s chairman, condemning the AFL’s handling of the Sam Powell-Pepper investigation.
Koch alleged on Thursday that the AFL had “railroaded” Powell-Pepper in trying to rebuild the league’s reputation with women because of the “misdemeanours” of axed AFL executives Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss.
“We always have our moments ... I reject what David Koch says unequivocally. We have had a Respect and Responsibility (Policy) for some time and all of our 18 clubs are invested in it,” McLachlan said.
“There was some emotion with David. I think that what is clear there are two sides to the story, there’s an agreed outcome and we move forward.
“These are serious allegations in the context of what other types of investigations might look like, actually its not been that long.
“It was late, he was intoxicated and he made inappropriate contact with a woman and that’s our belief.”
Former Port Adelaide star and SEN radio host Kane Cornes weighed into the Fremantle debate this morning.
“There’s been some major inconsistencies this week, something just clearly doesn’t add up,” he said.
Cornes said that Sam Powell-Pepper had been “hung out to dry” because he was an “easy target.”
And he questioned why Powell-Pepper had been treated differently to the Fremantle official accused of sexual harassment.
“There is the issue bubbling away out West. It is now four months since the AFL was made aware of the alleged sexual harassment of a former Fremantle staffer by a club official and a subsequent cover up and payout,” he said on air.
“City Hall is still refusing to comment. Why did it take the AFL just 16 days to complete their investigation and finalise a sanction on Powell-Pepper, yet months after they were made aware of an incident of a similar nature at Fremantle they have no resolution.
“Perhaps the 20 year-old second-year midfielder who is softly spoken was just an easy target.”