Richard White’s accuser seeks special arrangement to fight her case

The Brazilian woman who has accused WiseTech Global’s billionaire executive chairman Richard White of providing her with a visa and financial support in return for sex has been assisted by lawyers at Anti-Slavery Australia as she secures a special arrangement needed to fight her case.

The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review reported last month that Caroline Heidemann had alleged in the Federal Court that White, whom she had worked for, “made it clear that financial assistance was contingent upon” her “engaging in a personal and sexual relationship with him”.

Richard White denies Caroline Heidemann’s allegations and says the pair had a consensual personal relationship.Credit:

She alleged that White created a situation of “economic dependency” and engaged in “unlawful conduct for sexual gratification”. White denies the claims and said he “intends to vigorously defend all allegations”.

Heidemann is represented by KMD Law & Advisory in her Federal Court claim against the businessman, who founded the logistics software company and grew it into a $30 billion giant. But the firm said it did not provide immigration services. Heidemann was being represented by “Anti-Slavery Australia in respect of her visa application”.

Anti-Slavery Australia is a specialist legal centre that provides advice to people “who have experienced or are at risk of modern slavery”.

“Due to client confidentiality, we cannot comment on specific cases or disclose whether we represent particular individuals,” a spokeswoman said.

White returned to WiseTech as executive chairman on Wednesday after being forced to stand down from the board and as chief executive on October 24.

His resignation last year came after the board announced Herbert Smith Freehills and Seyfarth Shaw would review allegations about his personal conduct. To ease investors’ concern about losing White, the board announced he would stay with WiseTech as a consultant.

A preliminary finding cleared White of wrongdoing in November. However, the Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review reported that new allegations made by two women – one an employee and the other a contractor – had gone directly to the company as part of the review.

After a board feud with White over the contents of the review, four independent directors resigned last Monday. That led to White’s return as executive chairman at the company’s half-year results.

Heidemann has alleged the businessman, his wife Zena Nasser and their private company RealWise Management “engaged in serious contraventions” of the Fair Work Act. White has previously said he and Heidemann were in a consensual relationship that ended last year.

Heidemann obtained a temporary visa to allow her to stay in Australia to pursue her claim. The Australian government launched a two-year pilot program in July for a so-called justice visa. It allows Heidemann to stay in Australia for up to a year to pursue the legal claims.

This masthead is not suggesting White and Nasser have broken any workplace or modern slavery laws, only that Heidemann was assisted by Anti-Slavery Australia to get a visa for her legal action.

Heidemann, who worked for 15 months as a “general hand” at WiseTech, says White “cultivated a personal relationship … presenting himself as a mentor and benefactor”, according to Federal Court documents.

She alleges that after she was made redundant during the COVID-19 pandemic, White employed her at RealWise Management. White denies Heidemann was ever an employee of RealWise.

Heidemann alleges she repeatedly pressed White about a work visa, her employment status and unpaid wages, which she said he “largely ignored”.

According to Heidemann’s court statement, Nasser sent “hostile and threatening messages” instructing her “to stop demanding financial support” and to leave the country. She said Nasser threatened to report Heidemann and her “sham visa” to immigration authorities.

White has continued to provide financial support to Heidemann, funding her living and other expenses, sources close to him previously noted. They said that since the personal relationship commenced, White had provided more than $500,000 in financial support to Heidemann.

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