Perpetual has been forced underground in the wake of a former senior manager launching a sexual discrimination claim against the group.
The listed financial services firm is yet to release a public statement on claims made by its former wholesale general manager Fiona Dunn.
It is believed Perpetual is unable to comment as the company is yet to examine Dunn’s statement of claim to the Federal court, although there is speculation no new statement of claim has been made.
It has also been suggested that recent newspaper reports are merely quoting Dunn’s claim to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and not her Federal court claim.
“We tried to resolve it with HREOC, though we weren’t able to resolve it,” Perpetual spokesperson Susan Morey said.
“We believe it’s now in the appropriate forum and as such we’re not in a position to comment at this point.”
On Monday March 31, Dunn filed a lawsuit in the New South Wales division of the Federal Court seeking $1.2 million from the company.
She is reportedly claiming significant ongoing financial loss for unlawful discrimination and breach of contract.
In Dunn’s original complaint to the HREOC, she alleged senior Perpetual staff, including company chief David Deverall and former staffer Gerard Doherty, discriminated against her in the workplace.
She has since dropped claims against the pair, instead directing her claim solely at Perpetual, according to reports.
Dunn believes she was subjected to stress, anxiety, professional humiliation and bullying after she became pregnant.
She is also claiming her senior position was altered to a lower status when the company underwent a restructure.
Dunn has sought counsel from Haywards Solicitors representative Petrine Costigan.
