Veteran Seven journalist faces fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour
Veteran journalist Robert Ovadia is facing allegations from another 13 women of inappropriate conduct after claiming he was unlawfully sacked from Network Seven.
Ovadia was let go from Seven on June 21st after working with the network for 23 years, when he was fired with immediate effect after it was revealed he was part of an investigation by the ABC’s Four Corners program into the alleged toxic culture at the Seven Network.
After he was let go, the 7News Sydney journalist launched civil legal action against his former employer saying he was fired unlawfully.
On Thursday, Network Seven’s lawyer Vanja Bulut told the Federal Court that the Network terminated Ovadia’s employment because of a “number of images sent to a former colleague”, who was a graduate news producer.
Ms Bulut said the termination was also due to the “sending (an image) of a man’s genital to a colleague”.
The Network is defending the decision to “summarily terminate” Mr Ovadia without notice, with Ms Bulut noting further allegations had arisen supporting that decision.
“Subsequent to (Mr Ovadia’s) dismissal, 13 more females have come forward with complaints in regard to his conduct and they are subject to that investigation,” Ms Bulut told the court.
“He has been written to setting out the additional allegations that have come out subsequent to the dismissal, and to the extent that those allegations are reported in documents. Even if they (Seven) didn’t have a basis to primarily terminate the applicant’s employment at that time, the conduct that has come to light subsequently does provide a basis,” she said.
In a statement made after court, Mr Ovadia denied the claims against him, saying, “The claims are baseless and Seven has never provided evidence despite repeated requests.”
“Even today, no evidence to support any of this - just a dirty tactic to try to bully me away from defending myself.”
Image credits: Seven