JEFF Kennett has made a grovelling apology after blasting the ABC over claims it failed to approach Channel 7 for a report about a cadet journalist who was walked from the office after being accused of bullying.

A phone recording by 27-year-old cadet Amy Taeuber broadcast on the ABC’s 7:30 Report, showed the young worker was immediately asked to leave the building by Human Resources (HR) after being presented with allegations she had bullied a fellow staff member.

Mr Kennett, who is on the Seven West Media board, this morning apologised for his Twitter outburst which slammed the ABC for not seeking comment.

“I apologise. I have now been informed ABC contacted 7 Mon afternoon, just before your deadline,” he said.

“My comment of no contact incorrect and for that I apologise.”

Yet he stood by claims the report was “unbalanced”.

media_camera Sophie and Amy Taeuber were reportedly both fired from Channel Seven and now run their own PR company. Pics: Supplied.

Channel 7 said yesterday Amy was fired due to a “breach of contract” rather than other allegations.

“We reject the completely the claim we do not act fairly and supportively at all times with members of our staff,” a spokesperson told News Corp Australia.

It said Ms Taeuber cadet was fired “many weeks afterwards following meetings and discussions when the former employee was represented by two successive firms of lawyers and the union.”

“It is untrue to say that she was not represented,” the company said.

Ms Tauber last night thanked members of the public for “overwhelming support” on the issue.

She tweeted: “Thank you to everyone for the overwhelming support. It means the world. To those that have emailed — I will try to get back to you all.”

The former cadet at Seven News in Adelaide also tweeted a picture of herself with high-profile journalist Tracey Spicer at a Women in Media event on Tuesday night.

So lovely to see the amazing @TraceySpicer again. A true inspiration to all women in the media 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/4MoDfr9eID — Amy Taeuber (@amytaeuber) September 26, 2017

In the audio — made by Ms Taeuber to protect her legal rights — a HR representative can be heard telling Chief of Staff Lesley Johns to leave the call despite her protest that was “disappointing”. A male news director remains present while Ms Taeuber is presented with a letter detailing bullying allegations and told she will have her phone and ID pass stripped from her immediately.

“We find that instead of wiping phones from Seven’s IT access it’s just easier for us just to relieve people from their phones,” the HR manager tells the cadet.

“Is this actually for real?” she asks.

“Absolutely” the HR manager says in reply before Ms Taeuber reads the allegations against her and asks for details over who made them.

“I would like to know who has made these allegations ... they’re completely absurd. Oh my goodness is this real?”

“I’ve worked so hard to get this job and I know people are just trying to get rid of me now and it’s just really upsetting,” Ms Taeuber said, according to 7:30.

“I don’t really deserve any of this for standing up and having a problem with someone calling me a lesbian.”

She is offered the chance to “pick up her handbag and go” but said she would not like to return to her desk because “it’s quite humiliating.”

“This is disgusting. I’ve done nothing wrong I’ve not done any of this and I’m requesting to have the statement of the person who made these allegations,” she said.

“I am being bullied in this workplace and you guys are doing nothing and you guys are in on this bullying now because this is just absurd,” she said.

media_camera The Taeuber triplets — Amy, Sophie, Kate — are moving on from the Seven saga and starting a doco series where they try fad diets. Pictured at Nutrition Republic at Plant 4 Bowden. Picture: Tom Huntley

The Media, Entertainment Arts Alliance Union said it was “concerned and deeply frustrated” that media companies treat sexual harassment allegations “with contempt”.

“This was certainly the case in the matter involving a now former Seven Network cadet journalist in Adelaide, whose case highlights the timely need for senior media executives — who are predominantly men — to take direct responsibility for ensuring the toxic culture that allows sexual harassment to be perpetuated, that protects perpetrators and that fails to protect the most vulnerable employees, is stamped out for good,” it said.

The Committee of Women in Media Victoria expressed their support publicly, saying harassment of female journalists and a reluctance to address the issue is “all too common” in Australia.

“Seven Network’s decision to escalate the harassment by allegedly undermining the complainant suggests a troubling corporate culture. We would like to comment Ms Taeuber for speaking out in defence of her rights,” the group said.

Ms Taeuber, a triplet, now runs a company with her sisters Sophie and Kate called the PR Bible.

Originally published as Kennett apologises for ABC claim