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Fortescue suspends executive amid sexual assault allegations
Fortescue said its independent investigation is being led by MinterEllison, with no findings made yet.
Fortescue has temporarily suspended an unnamed executive amid sexual assault allegations, with a law firm conducting an independent investigation into the matter, the company said. Fortescue added that the allegation is being treated extremely seriously, and that no findings have been made.
The suspension removes the executive from company activities as the investigation progresses. A new statement also emphasized that sexual harassment and unlawful discrimination have no place at Fortescue, as reported by Bloomberg, while the Australian Financial Review said MinterEllison has not provided a timeline for its report.
Fortescue’s handling of misconduct is under broader scrutiny, including a class action alleging the company failed to protect female workers from sexual harassment and discrimination at its sites. The company is already dealing with legal fallout from a prior dispute with Western Australian authorities over its handling of alleged misconduct.
The latest developments arrive after Fortescue decided a week earlier to keep the senior executive working while the investigation was underway. Fortescue shares fell 1.2% to $17.71 on Thursday and are down 11% over the past year, according to the Australian Financial Review, which also noted that a union said a BHP proposal would not eliminate inequality between workers.