Amber Sherlock, a former television weather presenter for Channel Nine, has launched a legal battle against her ex-employer, alleging she was made redundant because she is a 50-year-old woman. Her lawyer, John Laxon, lodged a Fair Work claim in the Federal Court on March 9, with Sherlock later stating on a podcast that her retrenchment was motivated by her gender and age.
Allegations of Discriminatory Comments and Sudden Termination
According to documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Sherlock met with Nine's head of news, Fiona Dear, at the network's North Sydney headquarters between August and September last year. During this coffee meeting, Dear reportedly compared Sherlock to veteran Sydney news anchor Peter Overton, remarking, "You'll be here forever, we'll wheel you and Pete out of here." This comment has been cited as evidence of age-related bias in the workplace.
Two months later, on November 10, news director Michael Best and an HR representative informed Sherlock that her role was redundant. She was asked to leave the building immediately, and her access to Nine's servers was cut off. Initially, she was told there were three redeployment options within the company, but just two days later, via a Zoom call, she was informed that no positions were available in the Sydney newsroom, leading to her termination.
Claims of Experience Overlooked in Favour of Younger Colleagues
Sherlock asserts that she had "faithfully and diligently served Nine" for 18 years, gaining extensive broadcasting experience across various programs, including Today, Today Extra, and Nine News, from 2007 to 2025. She also developed skills as a writer, producer, and field reporter, and was described as a "well-liked and popular member of the news division's team." Her public recognition and reputational goodwill were highlighted as key factors that were allegedly ignored during the redundancy decision.
In her statement of claim, Sherlock notes that her duties were redistributed to three younger presenters: Maggie Rayworth, 33, Kate Creedon, 39, and Sophie Walsh, 39. She argues that this was no coincidence, as they are "at least ten years younger" than her, and her retrenchment occurred just three weeks before her 50th birthday. Sherlock has publicly stated that she does not believe financial reasons were behind the move, as she was not earning a high salary compared to some colleagues.
Legal Proceedings and Industry Context
Sherlock is seeking rulings from the Federal Court that Nine discriminated against her based on age and sex and contravened the terms of her award. She is also pursuing compensation for loss and damages. The matter is scheduled to be heard on April 15.
In a recent interview with News Corp-owned Stellar magazine, Sherlock expressed her frustration, saying, "I always joked that Channel Nine wouldn't have a 50-year-old weather presenter. Who knew I was being prophetic in that?" She added, "I feel like women in their 50s have so much to give, but even though we've come so far [in this industry], there aren't that many women over 50 in full-time camera-facing roles on Australian TV."
Nine's Response and Broader Redundancies
A Nine spokesperson has strongly denied the allegations, stating, "Nine does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of age or any other factor. We strongly reject any suggestion that this influences any decision to remove a role that is no longer required in our business." The spokesperson explained that the dedicated role of the 6pm weather presenter for 9News Sydney was made redundant in November 2025, and since then, multiple reporters and presenters have taken on weather duties alongside other network roles.
It was noted that Nine made a number of Sydney-based reporters redundant between July and November, but Sherlock claims her experience and public standing were not considered in her case. Instead, she alleges the network focused on her age and sex.
Past Controversy and Current Implications
This is not the first time Sherlock has been at the centre of controversy. In 2017, footage was leaked from inside Nine's studios showing her arguing with colleagues about the colour of a jacket during an ad break. However, this incident is separate from the current legal dispute, which centres solely on allegations of discrimination.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about age and gender bias in the media industry, particularly for women in on-air roles. As Sherlock's claim progresses through the Federal Court, it could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, potentially impacting employment practices across Australian television networks.
