AMP puts conditions on victim access to Boe Pahari sexual harassment probe

AMP is now said to be restricting access to the investigation report by only allowing Ms Szlakowski to see it under supervision, and forbidding the taking of notes.

AMP executive Boe Pahari is at the centre of a dispute over how a probe into sexual harassment complaint will be made public. Picture: Britta Campion

AMP is imposing conditions on how sexual harassment complainant Julia Szlakowski can access an external probe into her matter against a key company executive, as the parties also continue to squabble over which documents should be made public.

The under-pressure wealth company this week said it was willing to release the investigation into former employee Ms Szlakowski’s 2017 complaint against AMP Capital boss Boe Pahari, if she consented. But AMP’s statement triggered a war of words between the parties, as Ms Szlakowski’s camp said she hadn’t seen the investigation document and wanted her initial complaint also made public.

AMP is now said to be restricting access to the investigation report by only allowing Ms Szlakowski to see it under supervision, and forbidding the taking of notes.

Her local law firm Maurice Blackburn wrote to AMP on Friday to convey that restricting access was unreasonable.

The law firm had previously noted the summary document of the investigation’s findings confirmed that all the factual allegations made by Ms Szlakowski had occurred.

Mr Pahari, who was fined as much as $500,000 over the complaints made by Ms Szlakowski, has given permission for the confidential report to be made public.

The investigation was conducted by Andrew Burns QC, a specialist in labour and employment law in the UK.

An AMP spokesman declined to provide further comment on Friday, reaffirming the company’s view that the investigation was the “most appropriate document on the details and findings” of the 2017 complaint to release.

The matter has caused investor angst and stoked controversy after Mr Pahari was promoted mid-year to run AMP Capital, the company’s infrastructure and real estate arm.

AMP’s response to the matter being aired publicly prompted Ms Szlakowski to earlier this week accuse the company of “persistent and misleading efforts” to downplay the sexual harassment.

Her complaint outlined instances of Mr Pahari extending her hotel booking without permission, calls and texts in the early hours of the morning after a night out, and referring to his “limp dick” when she declined to use his credit card to buy clothing.

Ms Szlakowski settled the matter with AMP and parted ways with the company in 2018.

Sordid details of Mr Pahari’s behaviour coupled with the abrupt exit of AMP’s Australia chief Alex Wade early this month over his conduct has left shareholders up in arms over the company’s culture and the financial damage and distraction it is causing.

The Weekend Australian revealed that Mr Wade’s departure was linked to inappropriate behaviour and the sending of lewd photos to a female colleague. AMP did not provide reasons for his exit.

Mr Wade and AMP chief executive Francesco De Ferrari are former Credit Suisse colleagues, and the CEO has taken responsibility for the hiring. Mr Wade joined AMP in early 2019.

Several AMP investors have said Mr Pahari’s position looks ­untenable.