Airlie Walsh suing Channel Nine for sexual discrimination after workplace report exposed toxic culture

A veteran female Sydney Channel 9 reporter is suing the network over alleged sexual discrimination as the fallout from the a report into Nine’s toxic workplace culture continues.

Walsh, who has been on maternity leave since 2023, lodged a human rights claim against Nine Entertainment in the Federal Court last week.

The complaint centres around two male executives and inappropriate comments made in the newsroom as well as the network not considering her mental health when assigning her stories to work on, The Daily Mail reports.

Walsh has worked at Nine since 2008, starting on the Today Show, and is familiar face for Sydney viewers. She covered the Lindt Cafe Siege, the Black Summer bushfires and the NSW floods. In 2018 she worked as political reporter in Canberra and covered the 2019 federal election..

Her case against Nine comes after former Queensland news boss Amanda Petersen lodged a complaint with the Fair Work Commission a month after she was fired.

Last month Karl Stefanovic addressed the crisis at Nine after the report found widespread examples of sexual harassment and discrimination.

“I genuinely, genuinely feel for the women who have given testimony. I can’t imagine how hard that was and the courage that it took,” he said.

“Many people are hurting.

“They feel like what was the point of speaking out if perpetrators are not called out.

“I asked the same question yesterday and it’s my understanding several investigations are now under way and we have to be patient for the process of all that.

“It’s essential and it’s critical.”

Co-presenter Sarah Abo described the findings as “gut-wrenching and devastating” when speaking alongside Stefanovic.

“Some of the quotes were too hard to read. ‘He tried to groom me’. ‘She’s a toxic bully’. ‘Her M.O. was to create a culture of fear’,” she said.

“It’s simply unacceptable behaviour. These were common and repeated sentiments, the only solace being the incredible collegial support found among peers.

“There was real hope this report would bring about change, but the hurt remains, and many are deeply disappointed. Some are angry and there’s concern about whether those responsible will be held to account.”

While the consultancy firm behind the review, found the misbehaviour extended into Nine’s publishing and radio arm, which includes the Australian Financial Review newspaper and Perth radio station 6PR, broadcasting was the worst.

In one testimony, a respondent said the workplace was described as “punishment island”.

“A desolate and dark place no one wants to be. And if you’re not on ‘punishment island’ that month, seeing your friends and colleagues there is just as distressing,” they said.

Some 62 per cent of broadcast employees reported experiencing or witnessing abuse of power, 57 per cent experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment, and 30 per cent experienced sexual harassment.

Nine has vowed to implement all 22 of the report’s recommendations, including overhauling its HR department, reviewing its code of conduct and appointing external parties to investigate workplace complaints.