Harrison opens new front in battle with Seven with Federal Court claim

Amber Harrison also enlisted heavyweight legal help, hiring high-profile barrister Julian Burnside, QC.

Former Seven West Media executive assistant Amber Harrison has intensified her bitter legal battle with the Kerry Stokes-controlled media giant, lodging a fresh claim with the Federal Court alleging the company breached her workplace rights during her affair with chief executive Tim Worner.

Ms Harrison yesterday also enlisted heavyweight legal help, hiring high-profile barrister Julian Burnside, QC, to represent her in proceedings already underway in the NSW Supreme Court.

In her fresh Federal Court claim, filed on Thursday afternoon, she alleges Seven caused her distress, shame, helplessness, anxiety and panic attacks by forcing her to work from the same office as Mr Worner while the affair was underway in November 2013.

She says she was also injured by attempts to get her to resign and alleges Seven’s commercial director, Bruce McWilliam, commissioned an investigation of her credit card spending by Deloitte in August 2014 because she had complained about her treatment.

Much of the evidence Ms Harrison relies upon is contained in a confidential annexure that has not been released by the court, and more detail is likely to be added to the case before it is heard.

Mr Burnside surprised onlookers at the Supreme Court in Sydney yesterday morning by appearing to represent Ms Harrison, who had a two-year affair with Mr Worner, in proceedings the media giant has brought to stop her spilling further company secrets.

The QC argued that Seven failed to provide a safe place of employment for Ms Harrison and the case should be transferred to the Federal Court, where employment matters are usually heard.

Such a move would bring the case to Melbourne, where Ms Harrison and Mr Burnside live. No Federal Court hearings have been scheduled but the case has been assigned to the docket of labour law specialist Justice Mordecai Bromberg.

However, Seven draws hope from a decision of the Human Rights Commission yesterday throwing out an earlier claim Ms Harrison lodged against the media company and Mr Worner alleging sex discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation.

“Most of the matters raised in the cross claim have been previously raised by Ms Harrison in her complaint to HRC, which the HRC terminated today on the basis that they are lacking in substance and/or misconceived,” Seven West spokesman Tim Allerton said.

An extraordinary NSW Supreme Court order prohibits Ms Harrison from saying anything about Seven. Both sides were asked to provide outlines to the court on the matter before April 6.

Additional reporting: Christine Lacy