Seven has denied sacking television journalist Amy Taeuber because she lodged a sexual harassment complaint against a male colleague, claiming in a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon that her dismissal was primarily because of a "breach of contract" relating to two websites that made fun of Seven content and personalities.

The network was responding to a damning audio recording aired on the ABC's 7.30 program on Monday night, in which a network HR manager is heard to put Ms Taeuber on indefinite leave while an investigation is carried out into complaints levelled against her.

The then 27-year-old cadet journalist was told at the meeting in May 2016 to hand over her phone and ID card, and was not permitted to log out of her computer or off her private accounts, including Facebook, before it was seized by the company.

She never returned to work, and on July 5 was informed that the claims against her had been substantiated and as a result her employment was terminated.