Peter van Onselen accused of tormenting Tegan George on social media

Network Ten political editor Peter van Onselen has been accused in court documents of “tormenting” a reporter on social media.

Network Ten political editor Peter van Onselen has been accused in court documents of tormenting a reporter on social media despite ongoing legal action over bullying allegations.

Former political reporter Tegan George launched legal action against Network Ten in the Federal Court in January this year.

Van Onselen was named in her statement of claim. He is not being sued personally.

The reporter alleged she was mistreated after complaining about the “toxic workplace” inside Ten’s Canberra bureau.

George also accused the Network Ten star of humiliating her on social media since February 2022 in an expanded statement of claim filed on Wednesday.

Peter van Onselen has been accused of “publicly vilifying” former political reporter Tegan George. Picture: 10 News

Tweets featured in the claim included one aired on March 27 where van Onselen wrote:

“Accusations are not always accurate. Sometimes they say more about who points the figure without actual evidence. Most of us don’t know enough to form any kind of judgment.”

Another Tweet referred to in court documents was published on May 18.

“Your thoughts of if the hospitalised person is backgrounding journalists? Stoking attention. Very genuine question,” he said on Twitter to Brittany Higgins.

It’s alleged the tweets referred to George.

Network Ten’s former political reporter Tegan George updated her lawsuit over her treatment. Photo: Supplied

George claims in court documents the ongoing tweets caused “further anxiety, embarrassment, and distress”.

In the expanded claim George also alleges Network Ten’s Canberra bureau was a workplace “hostile to women”.

George is now seeking additional aggravated damages because of the ongoing behaviour.

She also added in the updated claim she wanted a court order to ensure annual training on victimisation, bullying and gender inequality.

The political reporter joined Network Ten in 2011 and has been on extended leave since June 2021.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Josh Bornstein, who is representing George, accused Ten of failing to “rein in” van Onselen and said the political editor had caused his client “immense distress”.

Network Ten issued a statement pushing back at Maurice Blackburn’s claims.

“We are astonished that Maurice Blackburn Lawyers is seeking to prosecute these claims through a press release, pre-empting due process of the court and the proper administration of justice,” a network spokeswoman said.

“In its filed defence, Network Ten has previously denied the claims of victimisation and adverse action.

“Network Ten intends to seek to strike out the new claims of sex discrimination. The court has established a timetable for that action.

“Network Ten values and supports all employees. Any inference to the contrary is completely false.”