Warren Tredrea is claiming tens of millions for his dismissal from Channel 9 Adelaide over COVID-19 vaccination refusal

A former Port Adelaide soccer membership captain and TV sports activities presenter is claiming he ought to be compensated virtually $6 million for lacking out of future employment with Channel 9 Adelaide.

Warren Tredrea is suing his former employer after the broadcaster dismissed him for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccination.

Courtroom paperwork filed to the Federal Courtroom of Australia by Mr Tredrea’s authorized workforce claimed the clauses that terminated his contract had been “unfair or harsh”.

However Channel 9 argued that the presenter behaved in a manner that might injury its repute or enterprise pursuits.

Yesterday, the media character’s legal professionals mentioned the events had been more likely to attain a decision earlier than the case reaches trial.

Mr Tredrea was terminated from his $192,500-a-year job on January 4, 2022.

Previous to his termination, the sports activities presenter was given a month-long extension to get his COVID-19 vaccination.

In court docket paperwork, Mr Tredrea’s authorized workforce claimed that there was low threat of great sickness from the Delta or Omicron variant of the virus and the long run security of COVID vaccines remained unknown.

In addition they argued that office practices Channel 9 adopted, like masks sporting and speedy antigen testing, had been equally efficient, if no more efficient, than vaccinations.

Mr Tredrea claimed he ought to be paid out the rest of his wage in 2022 — $176,458.32 — and compensated for the lack of alternative to resume his contract for as much as 30 years, which equates to $5.775 million.

Channel 9 responded that it had grounds to terminate Mr Tredrea’s companies underneath the Work Well being and Security Act to supply a secure office for different workers.

The broadcaster argued it was “severe misconduct” when Mr Tredrea expressed his opinion towards COVID vaccination on Adelaide radio station 5AA in September, calling the vaccination push “discriminatory”.

It mentioned his radio feedback had precipitated reputational injury to Channel 9 and undermined the belief viewers positioned within the broadcaster.

The employer additionally argued that Mr Tredrea was unable to carried out his job as a sports activities presenter from November when some sports activities venues and soccer golf equipment had restricted these unvaccinated from entry.

“The conduct of [Mr Tredrea] in his failure to adjust to the instructions, in [Channel 9’s] opinion, may have precipitated injury to the repute and enterprise pursuits of [Channel 9],” the paperwork claimed.

Channel 9 responded that damages to Mr Tredrea ought to be restricted to at least one month’s pay.

The matter returns to court docket subsequent yr.