An ABC senior journalist and producer allegedly groped a female colleage at a staff Christmas party at the end of last month.
The female staff member alleged she was sexually harassed by the man at the gathering in Southbank, Brisbane on November 24.
An ABC spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that management had removed an employee from the workplace ‘following a complaint from a colleague about their behaviour’.
‘The ABC moved quickly in response to the complaint and the matter is under investigation.
‘The employee will remain absent, pending the outcome of that investigation.
‘Any allegations of this kind are always thoroughly investigated and alleged victims are always offered counselling and support.’
Staff members claimed the man ‘went on a rampage’ at the Christmas party and was intoxicated, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
An ABC senior journalist and producer allegedly groped a female colleage at a staff Christmas party at the end of last month (stock image)
Following the Christmas party, the ABC’s chief people officer Dharma Chandran sent an email to staff reminding them of what’s expected at work functions, sources claim.
Mr Chandran urged staff to be mindful of how much alcohol they have and said it was not an excuse for any type of harassment or anti-social behaviour.
‘As teams are coming together to celebrate another successful year at the ABC, we would like to remind you of the importance of respectful and responsible behaviour at ABC’s end-of-year celebrations and other work-related social events,’ he said.
‘We expect everyone to always treat each other with dignity and respect and remind you that incidents of harassment, including sexual harassment, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.’
His email also told staff to ‘not assume someone is interested in you’ based on what they’re wearing and previous interactions.
It comes as Sky News had its Christmas party scrapped this year after former colleague Chris Smith disgraced himself at the 2022 gathering
It comes as Sky News had its Christmas party scrapped this year after former colleague Chris Smith disgraced himself at the 2022 gathering.
Employees at the network’s Sydney headquarters will have to make do with a quiet lunch in its suburban offices.
Staff have been told alcohol will not be supplied at the Macquarie Park newsroom, from where most of Sky’s programming is broadcast.
Sky’s last big annual blowout was held on December 10 at the Justin Hemmes-run Ivy Sunroom on George Street in the central business district.
Smith, 60, made offensive comments to one young female colleague and touched another on the bottom after a group moved on from Ivy to the nearby Establishment.
The former presenter, who blamed his conduct on bipolar disorder and alcoholism, apologised for his drunken actions but was sacked by Sky CEO Paul Whittaker three days later.