It has emerged Network Ten reporter Tegan George has reached an out-of-court settlement with the network over events she says left her traumatised during the bushfire season in 2019 and 2020.
Ms George filed documents in the ACT Supreme Court detailing how she felt under threat of personal injury due to the close proximity of the fires, the distress of the people around her and her lack of familiarity with fire behaviour.
Network Ten reporter Tegan George settled with her employer out of court. (LinkedIn)
She made specific complaints about being sent to Bermagui when it had been evacuated and covering traumatic stories including the death of a father and son.
She accused Ten of negligence and a breach of statutory duty, claiming damages after she was left unable to work.
Ms George argued if the injury had not happened she would not have "developed the psychological response to subsequent workplace events that she ultimately did and which culminated in her becoming incapacitated for work".
She also claimed the Network was or ought to have been aware she was suffering psychological disturbances and should have taken steps to protect her from psychological stresses.
Ms George included criticism of her work performance by network political editor Peter Van Onselen and executive editor Anthony Murdoch.
Her claim included money to help pay for out-of-pocket costs for treatment, beyond what she was receiving from the network's workers compensation scheme, saying she suffered symptoms including dreams about the traumatic events, insomnia, reduced short-term memory, headaches, feelings of hopelessness and hypervigilance.
But Network Ten denied any negligence, saying it was an extraordinary time.
"[Ten] states that the claimant's allegations involve a counsel of perfection based upon the benefit of hindsight, having regard to the historic and unprecedented emergency situation which unfolded," its court documents stated.
"No contemporaneous 'warning signs' were reasonably apparent to [Ten]."
Ms George and Ten have now reached an agreement outside the court with no settlement disclosed.
But Ms George and the network are still locked in a Fair Work dispute in the Federal Court.
That hearing has been set down for February next year.
Court documents from Network Ten said no contemporaneous warning signs were reasonably apparent to it. (AAP: Paul Miller)