An unnamed senior executive at Australian mining giant Fortescue has been accused of sexual and psychological abuse, according to a report by The Australian published Monday. The allegations have prompted the company to launch an internal investigation, but Fortescue has so far declined to stand the executive down from his duties.
The Australian reports that the accusations against the executive include both sexual and psychological misconduct. In response, Fortescue has hired an external law firm to conduct a formal investigation into the claims, as confirmed by Reuters. The company has also publicly defended its decision not to suspend the executive while the probe is underway, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The news comes alongside separate reporting from The Australian that Fortescue has disclosed 98 staff safety complaints in a recent period, with 11 employees dismissed as a result. The two reports together highlight ongoing concerns about workplace conduct at the iron ore producer, though it is not clear whether the complaints and the executive allegations are directly connected.
Fortescue has not named the executive involved, and no details of the specific incidents have been made public. The company’s decision to keep the executive in his role during the investigation has drawn scrutiny, with the Sydney Morning Herald noting that Fortescue has explicitly defended the move.
The investigation is being handled by an outside legal team, which suggests the company is treating the matter seriously, but the lack of a suspension may raise further questions about its internal policies. Watch for the outcome of the law firm’s review and whether Fortescue faces pressure to change its approach to handling senior-level misconduct allegations.
