The reporter said it took “courage” to speak out and she was determined to “right wrongs”.
Channel 9 reporter Airlie Walsh has reached a confidential settlement with the Nine Network in the Federal Court after her secret sexual harassment complaint sparked a cultural reckoning.
Leading employment law firm Maurice Blackburn, which is acting for Walsh, confirmed last year it had filed a sexual harassment claim against the company.
The exact nature of her claim against the Network remains unknown. What is known is that she had filed a human rights sex discrimination case against her employer.
In a statement, Walsh and her legal team confirmed on Monday that the matter had finally been resolved more than a year after she lodged a complaint.
“After 15 years with Nine Entertainment, in October 2023 I made the difficult decision to engage lawyers and try to right a number of wrongs,” Ms Walsh said.
“During this time, more women bravely came forward, Nine conducted a culture review, and many of my broadcast colleagues contributed their experiences. In doing so, I was buoyed. It turns out, courage IS contagious.”
“While this isn’t the way I wanted to leave Nine, I’m filled with gratitude towards those who made me a better journalist and person, and I’m relieved the legal process has been resolved.
“For now, I won’t be making any further statements. My focus is on healing.”
Walsh had remained employed by Nine but had been on maternity leave since 2023 after the premature birth of her son. Her settlement caps off an annus horribilis for the Nine Network which has now kicked off the new year with an investigation into a Today newsreader Alex Cullen accused of accepting a $50,000 payment from billionaire Adrian Portelli and the fallout from the Today show’s Tony Jones’ stouch with Novak Djokovic for calling him “overrated” and “a has-been”.
SOURCE: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/channel-nine-star-airlie-walsh-confirms-confidential-settlement-over-sexual-harassment-claim/news-story/d747a501453cc5740f6e1473c857292f