Political reporter Tegan George has accused the political editor of Network 10, Peter van Onselen, of bullying her in a statement of claim filed against the network in federal court.
George has launched a Federal Court action against Network 10 and is also claiming damages.
The Guardian has reported in the claim George declared she has not worked since mid-2021 and she went on to explain that she suffered “hurt, humiliation and distress,” during her time working at network 10. She also clarified this was partly because of the treatment she received from Onselen.
George also claimed that the network failed to intervene when she raised issues with them.
The political reporter then detailed numerous allegations against Van Onselen including that she believed he was backgrounding other journalists against her. The Sydney Morning Herald, reported that George also alleged that she had been directed numerous times to write Onsele’s packages for him.
Interestingly, the former 10 employee also claimed that she believed he’d written several tweets about her.
According to The Guardian, George outlined that after she overheard an exchange between a Network 10 employee and a freelance camera operator where a: “sexist remark was made about another employee.” She decided to not make a statement on what she overheard but then was threatened with disciplinary action if she didn’t.
Eventually, she compiled, however, George believes that her reluctance prompted this tweet by Onselen.
Well said @latingle on the need for positive obligations on employers to deal with workplace sexual harassment. When it happens it must be called out. There should also be obligations on employees who witness it to report it, not cover it up.
— Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) September 5, 2021
George also details a separate incident where he published another tweet that she believes was inspired by her.
After George had a meeting with 10 management and become visibly upset, Onselen tweeted this shortly after.
“Like crying wolf, if you keep looking for sympathy as a justification for your actions, you will someday be left standing alone when you really need help.” Criss Jami.
— Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) September 9, 2021
Network 10 will assumedly file a defence claim shortly and have not commented on the case.
Of course, all of this news comes as Onselen has been manning the desk on 10’s The Project. He recently made headlines for criticising Grace Tame for not smiling at Scott Morrison.
It will be interesting to how this case unfolds particularly because 10 has been giving Onselen more on-air opportunities.
