(ATR) An independent panel rules that long-time Australian Olympic Committee media chief Mike Tancred engaged in "disreputable conduct" in dealings with former AOC CEO Fiona de Jong.
But the panel has rejected de Jong’s complaint that Tancred bullied her.
The complaint by de Jong is one of several against Tancred that are being heard by a panel of retired high court justices.
De Jong resigned from the AOC in December. Two months later, she and other former employees raised their complaints, the controversy turning into a side issue in the election for the AOC presidency. Tancred, at the AOC since the 1990s, is close to incumbent John Coates, who successfully won a seventh term in the May 6 election.
The independent panel recommends that "Mr. Tancred be severely reprimanded for his conduct, which will form part of his employment record".
Tancred, who took leave of his AOC job when the complaints surfaced, remains off-duty while the panel considers the other allegations he faces.
In the case of de Jong, the panel ruled that Tancred’s conduct "does not rise to the level of 'bullying' because it was not repetitive".
The complaints against Tancred have focused attention on the business practices of the AOC under Coates’ leadership. The formation of the independent panel to review the complaints against Tancred is one response. A new CEO, Matt Carroll, began work this month. He is supposed to take over executive duties once handled by Coates, who says this will be his last term.
"The AOC has committed to an independent review into workplace practices to ensure the best possible environment for our staff," says the statement from the AOC regarding the findings in the De Jong complaint.
"The AOC continues to support an environment free from discrimination, harassment and bullying and will not tolerate behaviours that differ from this standard," the statement concludes.
Written by Ed Hula.
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