Think tank apologises for ‘significant distress’ after sexual harassment complaint

1 week ago 3

The Centre for Independent Studies has publicly apologised to a former employee who accused it of taking retaliatory action against her after she made a sexual harassment complaint against its high-profile former director Tom Switzer, part of a settlement deal which also included a payout.

The right-leaning think tank has issued a statement describing Emilie Dye as a “valuable team member” and apologising for the “significant distress” caused by the months-long fallout from her complaint about Switzer.

The Centre for Independent Studies has apologised to former employee Emilie Dye as part of a settlement to her Fair Work dispute.

“We appreciate the constructive way Emilie addressed the issues leading up to today’s resolution and express our regret for the events leading up to today’s resolution,” the CIS statement said.

“We have always sought to meet Emilie’s needs while behaving fairly to all parties, but know that these events have caused Emilie significant distress and we once again apologise to Emilie.”

The statement, issued as part of a settlement to a dispute before the Fair Work Commission, comes after this masthead last month revealed that Dye alleged Switzer rubbed her leg, told her she had a “great arse” and described himself as “a very sexual guy” on a night out.

In a case lodged in the commission, she also accused the CIS of engaging in retaliatory action against her. Dye accused the think tank of launching an investigation into her own conduct after she refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement over the complaint.

The settlement came days after the CIS announced Switzer had resigned from his new position as a senior fellow with the organisation, with new executive director Michael Stutchbury citing the “challenging workplace dispute” as the reason for his departure.

Switzer categorically denies the allegations against him, and had said CCTV footage of the alleged incident — at Alfie’s Bar in Sydney’s CBD — was the “card up my sleeve”.

A high-profile political commentator who worked for then-Liberal Party leader Brendan Nelson, Switzer has crafted a successful career as an ABC radio presenter and opinion columnist for this masthead and The Australian Financial Review, as well as his role leading the CIS.

Dye said in a statement that she was “saddened that matters with CIS reached this stage”.

“I valued my time at the organisation and held deep respect for many of my colleagues and the work we undertook together,” she said.

“This process came at great personal cost, but I am grateful that we have been ultimately able to resolve these issues. I believe the CIS will now move forward as a more respectful and collegiate workplace, and I take comfort in that, even if I can no longer be part of it.”

Dye had lodged a detailed internal complaint with the CIS after the alleged incident with Switzer in March. It prompted an apology from CIS chairman Nicholas Moore.

Switzer resigned as executive director less than a month later to instead become a senior fellow with the organisation, but later told this masthead he had “already decided” to quit before the complaint.

Dye said while the CIS initially responded well to her complaint, she alleged her subsequent refusal to sign a confidentiality agreement coincided with a marked change in its attitude towards her.

Less than a month after CIS chief operating officer Dearne Cameron thanked Dye for handling the incident with “integrity and professionalism”, the think tank launched an investigation into her own conduct, accusing her of “workplace harassment” against an unnamed employee.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.