News Ltd is spending mega bucks to knock out a claim by Mercury sub-editor
John Lawler in the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal in Hobart.

He is seeking an upgrade from level 7 to 8 – which would result in a
$47 a week pay rise. Lawler alleges he has been discriminated against
by editor Garry Bailey (and former editor Ian McCausland) because of
his union activitiy. The claim is denied by Davies Bros, publishers of The Mercury and a wholly owned subsidiary of News Ltd. While dulcet tones were maintained by all during
the three day hearing, which ended yesterday, the Tribunal did hear
that Bailey had shouted Lawler was a “dumb f*ck” in
front of another journalist.

Lawler, who has been house committee secretary for many years, was last upgraded
in 1986 (apart from an upgrade given to all subs in 1995 after the introduction
of new technology). News hired a top silk for the inquiry before Margaret
Otlowski, Sydney barrister Harry Dixson SC. Dixson was instructed by Andrew
Cunningham of Minter Ellison – the thirteenth largest law firm in the world. And
News’ Group Industrial Relations Manager Andrew Biocca, was also down from
Sydney for the duration. Lawler was represented by Richard Grueber of Hobart law
firm Ogilvie Jennings.

Professor Otlowski will hand down her finding in due course.

Margaretta Pos is Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Tasmania Branch
president and a former Mercury journalist.