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Second SBS journalist pursuing legal action

Marion Ives, who was dismissed after sharing an article critical of SBS, files an unfair dismissal claim.

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Another ex-SBS employee has instigated legal action against the broadcaster after being fired for social media comments.

Marion Ives, who was dismissed after sharing an article on Facebook, has filed an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission.

The article, which was penned by former Dateline presenter Helen Vatsikopoulos, was critical of SBS.

“An unfair dismissal application has been made to the Fair Work Commission,” Ives, 34, said in a statement.

Fairfax reports she is being assisted by the MEAA in her claim.

The actions come just days after former SBS sports journalist Scott McIntyre announced legal action over controversial ANZAC Day tweets.

An SBS spokesperson told the newspaper, “SBS is unable to comment as all employee matters are confidential.”

7 Responses

  1. Maybe SBS, like the current federal government, doesn’t like criticism. They were right to boot McIntyre out because of offensive tweets about ANZAC, which makes him a bit of a twit! But Marion Ives? That’s another situation altogether! Give ’em heaps, Marion!!!

  2. She wasn’t fired for tweeting. She was told that SBS had no work available.

    They had previously not renewed her permanent contract and offered her a casual contract, then reduced the number of stories she was given. So she is going to have trouble proving an expectation of ongoing employment. Then she has to prove the dismissal was unfair. SBS are claiming budget cuts and restructuring, she has to prove that is a lie and the tweet was the reason. SBS have given up on being able to claim the tweet was legitimate grounds for dismissal.

    Interestingly McIntyre’s lawyers, despite earlier media reports, don’t believe they can argue that the dismissal was unfair, probably because he refused to apologise when given the chance.

    1. “SBS has given up” on the social media post as reason for dismissal??? SBS has never said it was a reason for letting her go. That’s what reporters who don’t know the full story have said.

  3. Upon what are you relying to state she was sacked “for social media comments”. SBS certainly hasn’t said that. And the Fairfax report you link to doesn’t say that. The loss of position certainly came after the posting. But that doesn’t mean the two are linked. In fact, Ms Ives herself claims she wasn’t given a reason. I suspect many reporters have put two and two together and made 12.

  4. Wasn’t Ives a casual employee though? At the time SBS said it was about budget cuts, the timing is a bit suss, but I wonder how much protection she has given her position…

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