Former ABC producer suing over underpayments

A former Australian Story senior producer is ABC for underpayments.

The Australian reports Richard Quentin McDermott, employed for 21 years until 2020, is seeking more than $288,000 in compensation.

A statement of claim filed in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in Sydney claims the ABC breached the Fair Work Act.

He is seeking $288,443.41 in compensation for underpayments, an estimate due to not keeping records of hours worked.

The documents state that McDermott was “regularly required to work hours in excess of his ordinary hours including outside of his span of hours” with an average of 53 to 72 hours a week while conducting research, filming and post-production.

McDermott joined the ABC in 1999 as Lateline’s supervising producer before joining Four Corners as both a reporter and producer, and subsequently Australian Story.

The ABC declined to comment.