A former Cricket Tasmania boss allegedly made sexual comments about bananas and threesomes to a receptionist involved in the Tim Paine sexting drama.
Former employee Renee Ferguson launched a sexual harassment claim against the sporting body in November naming former Australian test captain Tim Paine, his brother-in-law Shannon Tubb and others in 2017.
The receptionist alleged in court documents Stephen McMullen – the former general manager of venues at Cricket Tasmania – made “inappropriate sexual comments” to her.
On one occasion Ms Ferguson said he saw two bananas on her desk and asked her: “Oh, you need two bananas, do you?”
In another incident he allegedly overheard another inappropriate comment and asked “intrusive questions” about her private life.
“Have you ever had a threesome?” he allegedly said.
When she passed on a message from another Cricket Tasmania employee Mr McMullen told her to tell the other worker he “had been out rooting”.
Mr McMullen denied all the claims against him.
Ms Ferguson “felt deflated” and lost all confidence in her work because of the sexual harassment, according to court documents.
She also said in her lawsuit the harassment was “relentless and systemic and no one was doing anything about it”.
The allegations can be revealed after he failed to suppress his identity in a hearing at the Federal Court of Australia on Wednesday.
“My client is in a sense a bit of a bit player in the entirety of the allegations,” lawyer Ken Readxjmtzyw argued in court.
“The allegations against others within the complaint are much more florid and much more extensive.”
“My client is in a sense a bit of a bit player in the entirety of the allegations,” lawyer Ken Read argued in court.
“The allegations against others within the complaint are much more florid and much more extensive.”
Mr McMullen denied the allegations against him and faced reputational damage if they were aired, his lawyer said.
In an affidavit, the former venues boss said he was feeling anxious as a result of the claims against him.
He also argued it would damage his reputation, the litigation was at an early stage and it would prejudice the administration of justice.
But Justice Mordy Bromberg dismissed the application.
“One can sympathise with the predicament (he) finds himself in, particularly if he is right to say he is innocent of the allegations made against him,” the Federal Court judge said.
The judge found there was no basis for an order being sought to prevent prejudice and the proper administration of justice.
The allegations levelled against former Australian Test captain Tim Paine and his brother-in-law Shannon Tubb, an ex-cricketer, included the men sent lewd texts to the woman.
“We’re both f**ked if this got out,” the woman texted to Paine.
Paine also allegedly sent an image of his penis with the caption “true, so f**ked” in reference to the messages becoming public.
He was also reported as sending a series of explicit messages, including: “I’m about to give something firm a pull, myself I think (wink emoji) Well I was going to anyway ha.”
Paine previously said the messages were consensual.
In November, he stepped down as captain and apologised to his teammates, saying he didn’t want to derail the team’s chances of winning the Ashes.
“I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes series,” he said.
In the teary press conference, he apologised to his family and others involved.
The matter will head to mediation in March.
