Former AFL player and popular sports presenter Warren Tredrea is seeking a financial payout of close to $6 million from Channel 9 after he was sacked for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Documents filed in the Federal court on Wednesday and obtained by TV Blackbox reveal Warren Tredrea is seeking a compensation payout of over $5.7 million from Nine due to the loss of future employment.
The figure is based on a calculation regarding the likely income Tredrea could have earned from his $192,500 per annum sports presenter role appearing on Nine over a 30-year period.
Channel 9 dismissed Tredrea from his Nine News Adelaide sports presenter role in January of this year. The presenter had previously been provided extended leave from his work commitments while he declined to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
In documents submitted to the court, Tredrea’s legal representatives argued there was a low chance that the Delta or Omicron version of the virus would cause serious illness, and that the long-term safety of COVID vaccines was still unknown.
They also indicated other Channel 9 workplace policies including wearing masks and testing for antigens quickly, were just as good as vaccinations, if not better.
The documents also suggest Tredrea had been willing to negotiate a lower salary and/or the potential of doing more radio work on 5AA News prior to his termination from Nine.
In response to the claim, Channel 9 have indicated that Tredrea’s damages should not be more than one month’s pay.
The broadcaster defended itself stating the Work Health and Safety Act provided it with the right to dismiss Tredrea so that other employees could work in a safe environment.
Nine also accused Tredrea of damaging the network’s reputation during a 5AA radio interview where he described compulsory COVID vaccinations as ‘discriminatory’.
Lawyers representing Tredrea have indicated they remain hopeful of settling the matter out of court. The case will be heard again in court next year.
Additional info – ABC, Adelaide Advertiser
He’s got no chance. Previous Court cases in other staes have all been thrown out.