'Humiliating' and 'belittling' messages from The Project's political guru Peter van Onselen were part of a 'toxic' culture of bullying at Network Ten, a bombshell lawsuit claims.
But when Ten's Canberra Press Gallery reporter Tegan George complained, she alleges in court documents that a boss told her: 'Peter is bats*** crazy but we just have to get used to it.'
Ms George was left 'anxious and distressed' to the point of 'vomiting' because of the stress, according to her lawsuit against Ten filed at the Federal Court on Tuesday.
Ms George joined the station in 2019 but has been on leave since June 2021 allegedly suffering 'personal injury' brought on by 'stress to the point of incapacity', the lawsuit alleged.
Channel 10's Political Editor Peter Van Onselen has been named in legal action brought against the network by one of its reporters, Tegan George
Tegan George (pictured) has worked for the channel since 2019 as a political reporter in the press gallery but has been on leave since June 2021 suffering a 'personal injury' brought on by 'stress to the point of incapacity'
While she was off work though, George claims that van Onselen allegedly wrote a 'passive aggressive' group email to colleagues that he was having to pick up her slack.
'Tegan has extended her leave by another week,' part of the email said, the lawsuit claims. 'As mentioned I'm covering this weekend anyway.
'It will be my 15th straight day working so Alex has very kindly offered to double check my work!!!'
Van Onselen is one of several senior employees named in the lawsuit which claims the station failed to provide a safe working environment.
On Wednesday, van Onselen told Virginia Trioli on ABC Radio Melbourne that the lawsuit had been leaked to the media by Ms George's camp.
In her statement filed to the court, Ms George also claims Network Ten's Political Editor would 'background' against her to other journalists.
When she complained to her bosses about the 'rude and hostile' environment, executive editor Anthony Murdoch allegedly told her to deal with the 'toxic' culture.
George was allegedly then made to apologise for 'hurting his feelings' by making the accusations, according to her lawsuit.
Van Onselen is alleged to have rejected her complaint about feeling 'unsupported, disrespected and unwelcome' at the Canberra Bureau by saying he 'did not give a s***' how she was feeling'.
The controversy for the veteran reporter comes just a week after he copped a fiery backlash for criticising 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame for refusing to smile when she greeted Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Australia Day at The Lodge.
Channel 10 Political Editor Peter van Onselen found himself under attack after labelling Grace Tame 'ungracious, rude and childish' following her awkward encounter with Scott Morrison (pictured) at The Lodge last week
In her claim, the female reporter also alleges in the lawsuit that she often had to write van Onselen's TV news packages on top of her own work she was already doing.
News director Ross Dagan allegedly told her 'words to the effect that
