Top human rights QC takes up sex case against Seven CEO

The ex-mistress of Seven Network boss Tim Worner has appointed top human rights QC Julian Burnside to represent her in an ongoing legal battle with the media giant after they imposed a gag order to stop her unloading on her former lover via Twitter.

In a short hearing at a packed NSW Supreme Court this morning, Burnside —  who began working on Amber Harrison's defence as recently as Tuesday, and caught an early flight from Melbourne to represent her in court — told Justice J Sackar he wanted the case to be heard in the federal court.

Ms Harrison's new QC is arguing that the company failed to provide a safe place of work for the defendant while she was employed as an executive assistant. He said that his client has filed a cross-claim counter-suing under the Fair Work Act. It is believed her new legal team are preparing to reveal even more explosive claims against her former employer.

The NSW Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction for fair work claims, so Justice Sackar said the request "seems sensible".

But, Burnside's appointment and plea may well have taken Seven's legal team by surprise.

Counsel for Seven, David Thomas asked for time to consider his request and for the fair work matter to be struck out of the cross-claim.

Justice Sackar adjourned the case until April 6th, when he will decide if it should move to the federal court.

He also took the unusual step of asking both counsels to decide whether the cross-claim can be released to the media.

Ms Harrison was not in court, but did post a series of cryptic tweets this morning which could imply that Burnside and his team may be representing her pro-bono.

She has reportedly been left "penniless" by the ongoing legal battle. She is currently unemployed and living in Melbourne with a child in her care.

Her QC appeared to raise the issue in court. "May I also ask that the question of cost be dealt with", he said in reference to the next hearing.

Worner and Seven’s wider legal team, led internally by Commercial Director, Bruce McWilliam, were not present either.

Harrison was working as the assistant to former Seven executive and now CEO of Bauer media, Nick Chan when she willingly entered into a sexual relationship with Mr Worner.

The relationship soured and Ms Harrison eventually signaled she could not work in close proximity to her ex-lover. 

Over time Ms Harrison made a series of allegations against Mr Worner including cocaine-fueled sex sessions, abuse of company credit cards, corporate governance issues and claims he had affairs with four other members of staff. Worner has denied all claims.

Many of her claims against Seven were aired on her Twitter account.

Meanwhile, Seven has repeatedly claimed Ms Harrison admitted to abusing her company credit card purchasing flights and flowers for loved ones.

So far Seven is believed to have spent millions in legal and crisis management fees to manage the botched cover-up of the scandal.

In the process, it has accused Ms Harrison of being the first to breach the confidentiality clause in her termination agreement.

Ms Harrison is arguing the opposite.

This fight centres on who ‘leaked’ aspects of the confidential agreement to Fairfax journalist Joe Aston.   

As the sordid saga drags into its fourth month, it has also been revealed Ms Harrison is now the sole carer of a child and at one point begged Seven lawyers to settle the case because she was penniless and desperate to be free of the matter.