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# Jackie O sues her radio network for $82m over bullying claims
- URL: https://www.bushletter.com/jackie-o-sues-radio-network-82m-bullying-claims/
- Published: 2026-08-29T22:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-31T06:09:38.000Z
- Description: Jacqueline Henderson and her company Henderson Media Pty Ltd filed a Statement of Claim in the Federal Court on 19 June 2026, seeking at least $82.25 million in compensation under section 340 of the Fair Work Act 2009 and for repudiation of her 10-year Broadcast Services Agreement.
- Author: Editor
- Tags: Legal, Australia, Jackie O Henderson

![Elias Thorne](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262579/bushletter/authors/elias-thorne.png)

By **Elias Thorne** · 2026-08-28

TLDR

Jackie O Henderson is suing ARN Media in the Federal Court for more than $82 million, alleging on-air bullying by co-host Kyle Sandilands went unaddressed and that the network took adverse action against her protected workplace complaints. ARN's amended defence argues Henderson's complaint letter was made in bad faith.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

01Jackie O Henderson and her company are seeking a sum reported around $82 million from ARN Media in the Federal Court.

02Two on-air incidents involving Sandilands in August and September 2025 triggered her formal complaints to ARN executives.

03ARN's amended defence, lodged 20 August 2026, argues the safety complaint letter was an abuse of workplace rights.

04The underlying broadcast contract, signed November 2023, ran 10 years to December 2034 at a reported $200 million.

05Federal Court hearings are listed from 12 to 23 October 2026 if no settlement is reached.

## The claim

Jacqueline Henderson and her company Henderson Media Pty Ltd filed a Statement of Claim in the Federal Court on 19 June 2026, seeking at least $82.25 million in compensation under section 340 of the Fair Work Act 2009 and for repudiation of her 10-year Broadcast Services Agreement.[\[1\]](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0011/597485/ASOC.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) The proceeding, numbered NSD507/2026, sits in the Federal Court's general division and names ARN Media as respondent.

The Statement of Claim identifies two on-air incidents as the proximate trigger. On 20 August 2025 and 10 September 2025, Sandilands made what the claim describes as offensive, degrading and humiliating comments about Henderson during broadcast, causing her to momentarily leave the studio and report the conduct to ARN executives.[\[1\]](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0011/597485/ASOC.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) The claim further alleges ARN took adverse action against Henderson after she exercised those rights, the statutory prohibition that anchors the Fair Work Act case.

In a letter dated 26 February 2026, Henderson formally notified ARN of alleged breaches under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), reserved her right to report to SafeWork NSW and to commence proceedings under Part 6-4B of the Fair Work Act, and requested an alternative to the Breakfast Show.[\[1\]](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0011/597485/ASOC.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) The Statement of Claim records that Henderson has given notice she cannot continue to work with Kyle Sandilands.

## ARN's amended counter

ARN's Amended Defence, filed 20 August 2026, takes a pointed line against the February letter itself. The network denies that Henderson exercised any workplace right and contends that the statements in that letter reserving her legal options were not made in good faith or for a proper purpose, amounting to an abuse of the very rights she invoked under section 340(1)(a)(ii) and (iii) of the Fair Work Act.[\[1\]](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0011/597485/ASOC.pdf?ref=bushletter.com)[\[2\]](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0009/604287/2026.08.20-Interlocutory-Application.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) That framing, if accepted by the court, would deny Henderson the statutory protection on which the adverse-action claim depends.

The contract at the centre of the dispute was announced by ARN in November 2023\. ARN Media extended both Sandilands's and Henderson's contracts until 31 December 2034 in a 10-year arrangement reported at $200 million.[\[4\]](https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20231122/pdf/05xmg945lypyx1.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) ARN chairman Hamish McLennan said at the time that the re-signings were a vote of confidence in the broadcast talent and their ability to deliver successful programming. The Federal Court has listed the matter for hearing from 12 to 23 October 2026, absent a settlement.[\[3\]](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/arn-updates-on-jackie-o-court-case/?ref=bushletter.com)

SOURCES & CITATIONS

1. [Henderson v ARN Media, Statement of Claim (NSD507/2026)](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0011/597485/ASOC.pdf?ref=bushletter.com)
2. [ARN Media, Amended Defence and Interlocutory Application, 20 August 2026](https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0009/604287/2026.08.20-Interlocutory-Application.pdf?ref=bushletter.com)
3. [ARN updates on Jackie O court case, Radioinfo](https://radioinfo.com.au/news/arn-updates-on-jackie-o-court-case/?ref=bushletter.com)
4. [ARN Media ASX announcement, contract extensions, November 2023](https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20231122/pdf/05xmg945lypyx1.pdf?ref=bushletter.com)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Jackie O Henderson alleging against ARN Media?

Henderson alleges that ARN Media failed to address on-air bullying by co-host Kyle Sandilands during broadcasts in August and September 2025, and that the network then took adverse action against her after she lodged formal health and safety complaints under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Fair Work Act 2009.

How much is Henderson seeking in the Federal Court?

Henderson and Henderson Media Pty Ltd are seeking at least $82.25 million in compensation, covering adverse action under the Fair Work Act and alleged repudiation of her 10-year Broadcast Services Agreement.

What is ARN's defence?

ARN's Amended Defence, filed 20 August 2026, denies that Henderson exercised any workplace right and argues that her February 2026 complaint letter was not made in good faith, characterising it as an abuse of workplace rights under the Fair Work Act.

When is the Federal Court hearing scheduled?

The matter is listed for hearing in the Federal Court from 12 to 23 October 2026, if no settlement is reached before that date.

![Elias Thorne](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262579/bushletter/authors/elias-thorne.png)

[Elias Thorne](https://bushletter.com/author/elias-thorne/?ref=bushletter.com)

Elias Thorne writes about interest rates, the bond market and the Reserve Bank. He is interested in what monetary policy actually does to household budgets, and in the long stretches of economic history that tend to repeat.