Sunrise Producer Accused of Sexist Conduct

Matthew McGrane, a long-serving producer at Seven, is facing serious allegations of sexist, aggressive, and inappropriate conduct towards women at the network. These accusations emerged in court documents filed by Seven as a defense against a lawsuit initiated by McGrane. McGrane, who is paraplegic, is suing the network after suffering severe injuries when he fell from his wheelchair while commuting home.

Seven's defense details numerous complaints from staff who supervised McGrane. These allegations include frequent aggressive behavior, such as swearing and shouting, as well as inappropriate comments directed at female presenters. Some junior female employees reportedly felt unsafe and were reduced to tears by McGrane's conduct. The network also claims McGrane's behavior caused distress to his superior, Sarah Stinson, during a phone conversation following his accident.

McGrane alleges that Seven took adverse action against him due to his workers' compensation claim and disability, asserting he was overlooked for promotion. He also claims he was left feeling distressed by reduced duties post-accident. Seven counters that McGrane breached his employment obligations by appearing on a Four Corners report, which they allege was intended to disparage the network and secure a large payout.