Former Today reporter Airlie Walsh reaches confidential settlement with Nine over sex discrimination claim

A confidential settlement has been reached between former Today television reporter Airlie Walsh and Nine Network Australia over a sexual discrimination claim that she made against the troubled broadcaster.

Ms Walsh lodged legal action against Nine in the Federal Court in October 2023 while on maternity leave.

About the same time a number of other women came forward with their own alleged complaints — some of which were against former Nine Entertainment boss Darren Wick — sparking a review into the media organisation’s workplace culture.

The review was carried out by independent firm Intersection, with the damning report — released in 2024 — concluding that Nine had “a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority; bullying, discrimination and harassment; and sexual harassment”.

In a statement, Ms Walsh — who joined Nine in 2008 and became one of the network’s highest-profile reporters working for Today, in the Canberra Press Gallery and in the Sydney newsroom — said the decision to sue her employer did not come lightly but she felt she had to “right a number of wrongs”.

“During this time more women bravely came forward, Nine conducted a culture review and many of my broadcast colleagues contributed their experiences,” she said.

“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.”

Maurice Blackburn principal Josh Bornstein, who represented Ms Walsh, praised his client for her courageous decision to pursue her claim.

“Airlie’s decision to pursue this case took a lot of courage,” he said.

“It also both spurred other women to take action and Nine to institute major change.

“I hope that the settlement of this important case is a further catalyst for the commercial news media to clean up its act. It is well overdue.”

Other key findings from the Intersection report found that half of the network’s employees had seen or experienced abuses of power, bullying and discrimination, with numerous confidential complaints lodged against some of the Nine’s most senior male and female sitting executives.

It also found nearly a third of broadcast employees (30 per cent) reported experiencing sexual harassment, with sexually suggestive comments or jokes and intrusive questions about appearance or private life being common behaviours.

Mr Wick, who was the subject of some of the complaints, left the company in March 2024 after accusations of sexual harassment, drunken and lecherous conduct and serious inappropriate behaviour.

His departure and Nine’s handling of the allegations sparked a company-wide crisis, which led to an exodus of senior executives.