McLachlan clears use of hush money for victims

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the league has no problems with hush money being paid to sexual harassment victims as long as it helps resolve the issue.

Fremantle hit the headlines this month when it was reported an official made a secret payment to a former junior staffer to settle an alleged sexual harassment complaint.

The AFL’s integrity unit investigated the harassment claims and found no further action was needed.

The Fremantle official has remained anonymous.

The murky issue of hush payments was raised when McLachlan faced the media in Perth yesterday.

Without wanting to commenting directly on the situation, he said it was important for confidentiality agreements to be honoured when the circumstances warranted.

Asked whether making payments to victims was against the AFL’s respect and responsibility policy, McLachlan said no.

“What the core part of the policy is . . . is actually resolving the issue between the complainant and the person who they are making the allegation against,” he said.

“It’s entirely appropriate and part of the policy for it to be confidential.

“There’s a wide series of options available for getting resolution. There are many cases that are resolved confidentially.

“That’s one of the core tenets of the policy — where possible and where appropriate, the confidentiality remains because it’s resolving the issue rather than actually being something for public debate.

“I think it’s unfortunate when it comes out. Unfortunate for the complainant and the person who is being complained against.”

Earlier this week, Port Adelaide president David Koch slammed the AFL over its Sam Powell-Pepper investigation.

Koch said Power-Pepper was a victim of the AFL’s attempts to rebuild its reputation with women after the resignations of league executives Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss over affairs with junior colleagues.

The Port player was slapped with a three-match ban over his late-night drunken behaviour, which the AFL said also included engaging in “inappropriate contact with a female”.

Koch accused the AFL of “railroading a kid and trying to rebuild their reputation”.

McLachlan said there was no bad blood over the handling of the investigation.

“I think David was emotional and clearly feels he’s protecting his player and his club,” McLachlan said.