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The action was launched after four board members – chair Karen Mak, umpires Simon Cannavan and Catherine Caswell, and court supervisor Jim Goode – had their officiating registrations terminated by Tennis Australia this month, preventing them from working at the Australian Open or any other Tennis Australia-sanctioned event. They were cast out after Tennis Officials Australia included complaints about Tennis Australia’s handling of a range of matters in newsletters issued to members, and after the organisation compiled a report into alleged bullying and misuse of authority by a state-based tennis figure. They allege their memberships were cancelled as payback for not toeing the line, and that Tennis Australia was responsible for a culture in which officials were afraid to speak up. They are seeking reinstatement, compensation and a declaration that Tennis Australia had contravened general protections under the Fair Work Act. “The Fair Work Act protects employees from being punished for speaking up – yet Tennis Australia has done exactly that,” said Mak, a Melbourne barrister.
