3AW host Tom Elliott makes further harassment claims against Darren Wick

Nine Radio host Tom Elliott has lashed his own employer over its handling of the sexual harassment scandal that has engulfed the media company.

Tom Elliott at 3AW. Picture Jay Town

High-profile Nine Radio host Tom Elliott has lashed his own employer over its handling of the sexual harassment scandal that has engulfed the media giant, and revealed that he personally knows four female staffers from the company who claim they were mistreated by former news boss Darren Wick.

Melbourne-based Elliott, who presents the mornings program on the Nine-owned 3AW, told his listeners on Monday that the fresh harassment claims against Wick – who resigned from Nine in March, citing exhaustion – needed to be taken seriously.

A wave of allegations pertaining to Wick’s inappropriate behaviour towards female staff at Nine have been aired over the past week, but most of the claims have been made by Sydney-based staff.

Elliott’s allegations are particularly significant because they relate to staff who worked in Nine’s Melbourne newsroom, which adds further weight to the suggestion that Wick’s alleged misconduct was more widespread than first thought.

“I know of four women who all allege some very bad behaviour by Darren Wick,” Elliott said.

“I know the four women … and I think they are telling the truth.

“The behaviour ranges from belittling and berating female employees in front of their colleagues, to sexual harassment.

“None of them want to go public. They all fear that Nine will want to take revenge on them. “It’s a small industry in which we work, and if you upset a big employer like Nine it can be terrible for your career.”

The 3AW host is the most high-profile of Nine’s stable of stars to speak out over the media company’s handling of the Wick matter; other well-known Nine staffers have opted to remain silent since The Australian last Monday broke the story of the newsman’s alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Former Nine news chief Darren Wick. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

Elliott stressed that at this stage, the claims against Wick had not been proven, but said that Nine’s investigations into the allegations had been handled poorly.

“It’s not good enough in the modern day workplace for someone to be accused of such things, like berating and belittling employees, like allegedly committing acts of sexual harassment, and for nothing to be done about it,” he said.

“It’s alleged misconduct of a very serious nature.”

Elliott’s on-air remarks on Monday came just hours before Nine chief executive officer Mike Sneesby announced a formal investigation into the behaviour and concentration of power in the newsroom.

The probe will be conducted by an external party.

On Tuesday, The Australian revealed that Mr Sneesby was responsible for signing off on a near-$1 million golden handshake to Wick, despite the existence of a slew of harassment claims against the 60-year-old news boss.

Nine has been contacted for comment, as has Wick.