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Fortescue keeps executive on duty while external lawyers probe harassment
Fortescue hired MinterEllison to investigate, after it previously settled a dispute with Western Australian authorities and agreed to spend A$1.4 million on workplace-behavior strategies.
Fortescue said it will keep an unnamed senior executive working while external lawyers investigate allegations of sexual harassment and bullying, according to Mining.com. The company hired law firm MinterEllison to conduct the inquiry, which was first reported by the Australian Financial Review earlier this month.
The probe adds to ongoing legal scrutiny for the Australian miner, including a separate class action alleging workplace misconduct and issues with how harassment complaints were handled, Mining.com reported. Fortescue said it has taken extensive external legal and governance advice and is confident it is following the proper process, as discussed during an earnings call about its annual results.
Mining.com noted the allegations have renewed focus on workplace culture at Fortescue, a major player in Western Australia’s resources industry. The company also pointed to broader regulatory attention in the state, including a 2022 parliamentary report that documented widespread problems at remote mine sites.
Fortescue faces additional pressure after law firm JGA Saddler filed a class action in June alleging workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment and sex discrimination, with potential damages not specified. In its latest financial year, Fortescue reported 98 psychosocial breaches, down 20% year over year, and dismissed 11 workers for code-of-conduct breaches related to discrimination and sexual harassment. It also recorded 13 cases of inappropriate sexual contact, 10 cases of sexual harassment, and one case of sexual assault.