AMP: Senator Deborah O’Neill raises shocking new harassment accusations

Parliament hears damning accusations by another former female AMP employee, alleging ‘consistent and systematic’ harassment’.

Labor Senator Deb O’Neill and AMP’s new chairman Debra Hazelton

AMP is enduring another hit to its battered reputation after a former female employee raised shocking allegations of ongoing sexual harassment, including groping, threats and a senior colleague rubbing his genitals against her.

The latest damning revelations were detailed by Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill late on Tuesday night, when she invoked parliamentary privilege to read the account of the former AMP employee, which highlighted “consistent and systematic” harassment. 

It comes as the wealth group remains in damage control over its handling of a 2017 sexual harassment complaint, and the separate exit of a key executive over inappropriate conduct early this month. That culminated in the resignations of chairman David Murray and director John Fraser on Monday, with Debra Hazelton stepping in to lead the AMP board.

Reading from the former AMP employee’s account of events, Senator O’Neill said:

“Through the last eight weeks I have relived my experience and it is with utter dismay that I see the AMP system remains as it ever was.

“The harassment I suffered ranged from receiving sexually explicit photos and emails expressing a desire to have sex with me, constant and public propositioning, including in front of some of the company‘s largest clients, physical harassment, including being touched repeatedly by a leadership team member at the office, a senior colleague groping me off site and another forcing himself on me by rubbing his genitals against me at a work function.”

The employee’s identity was not disclosed in parliament.

The allegations included that her direct manager threatened to end her career if she didn’t cede to his “sexual wishes” while alone with him on a work trip.

“My saving grace was that he was blind drunk and, as he went to pour himself another drink, I ran. I immediately called a friend,” Senator O’Neill read.

An AMP spokesman said the behaviour and conduct described in the speech was “distressing and unacceptable”.

“AMP takes any complaint or issue raised seriously, including from employees who have now left the organisation,” he added.

“We are in contact with Senator O’Neill’s office, and would welcome an opportunity to meet or engage with the former employee referred to by the Senator to offer our support.”

A memo sent by AMP’s human resources boss Helen Livesey to staff, and sighted by The Australian, reiterated a similar message.

It also said: “Let’s work together to make sure AMP is a safe, supportive and rewarding place to be.”

Senator O’Neill’s office denied claims, though, it was helping AMP identify the complainant.

On Tuesday, Senator O’Neill recounted how the former AMP employee remembered the handling of her complaint.

“After speaking up, I was bullied, victimised and ultimately silenced. My time at AMP has destroyed my life and it’s taken everything that I have to rebuild parts of it,” Senator O’Neill read in parliament.

“The perpetrators, including those who swept me under the rug, have gone on to thrive. During my tenure, I raised formal complaints with the company, including via external legal representatives, but none of these were resolved safely, let alone satisfactorily. Two of these cases were escalated. But in one instance the perpetrator was given a warning and allowed to remain. He also harassed another colleague, who left the industry as a result and sustained sexual harassment by two managers. The other, my manager, was repeatedly promoted.”

The former AMP employee’s statement referred to an internal lawyer investigating, rather than an independent party.

“Over the next several months I was placed on medical leave and was directly discouraged from lodging a worker’s compensation request by a member of the executive leadership team... I was explicitly and repeatedly told that I was not allowed to speak to anyone about the matter. The friend and colleague that I asked to accompany me to the first meeting was told they would be terminated if they spoke a word about the matter and that they were not allowed to accompany me again.

“The man on the leadership team who was well known for his uninvited caressing of younger female employees suddenly stepped in to manage the investigation and subsequent communication with me. I was treated like a criminal.”

The former employee went on to say there were some “wonderful leaders” at AMP, who focused on a strong and inclusive culture.

“This was certainly the case in one part of the business, where such behaviour had been systematically eradicated over recent years. However, it only takes a handful of rotten apples to spoil the barrel and, in this case, it’s obvious who those rotten apples are,” Senator O’Neill read out.

Senator O’Neill then independently called on local companies to work harder to stop the type of behaviour highlighted at AMP.

“Australia is better than this. Come on, corporate Australia, surely you can destroy this cultural stain on our nation,” she said.

AMP chief executive Francesco De Ferrari – who took the reins in late 2018 – this month identified fixing the company’s culture as his top priority in 2020.

This week’s AMP board changes related to the promotion in July of Boe Pahari to lead AMP Capital, despite the 2017 complaint and penalty for his actions which related to a former subordinate. AMP’s decision was reversed on Monday after investors threatened to call an extraordinary meeting and seek board scalps, with Mr Pahari being demoted to his former role.

In early August, AMP Australia boss Alex Wade parted ways with the group suddenly after only joining in early 2019. While AMP declines to comment, his exit was linked by insiders to inappropriate conduct and the sending of lewd photos to a female colleague.

Shareholders have urged AMP to improve its culture and provide meaningful updates on the topic. Conduct issues have again dented the group’s reputation after it came under heavy fire at the Hayne royal commission in 2018.

Australian Council of Superannuation Investors chief Louise Davidson on Wednesday said any workplace sexual harassment should not to be condoned.

“There are significant cultural issues that need to be addressed at AMP,” she added. “While the recent departures are an acknowledgment that significant change needs to occur, the company must now reset culture and address any systemic issues at play.

“We will not see gender equality in workplaces as long as perpetrators of harassment continue to be promoted while the person being harassed ends up leaving.”