Film company and director fined $55,000 over harassment risk
04 Oct 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
Indimax Film Productions Pty Ltd and its sole director have been fined a total of $55,000 for workplace health and safety failures following an investigation into an employee’s sexual harassment allegation.
The company and its 45-year-old director pleaded guilty to charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and were sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 11 September.
The company was convicted and fined $40,000 for failing to provide or maintain a workplace that was safe and without risks to health. The director received a $15,000 fine without conviction for failing to provide or maintain a safe work environment and failing to take reasonable care as an officer of the company.
WorkSafe began investigating after an employee contacted the regulator in July 2022, alleging sexual harassment by the director over several months. The investigation found the company had no sexual harassment policy to identify, prevent, manage, investigate or respond to inappropriate workplace behaviour.
The court heard that it was reasonably practicable for both the company and director to develop and implement a policy covering appropriate and inappropriate workplace behaviour, including sexual harassment. This would have included a clear, confidential reporting and response process for workers, along with training for managers, supervisors and workers.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said workplace harassment commonly caused mental and physical injuries that could have lasting effects.
“In this instance, there were various overlooked or ignored processes that should have been in place to make workers feel protected and supported, including the knowledge that they could easily raise any concerns about their workplace experiences,” Mr Jenkin said.
“Power imbalances in work environments can often make it difficult for workers to speak up, so it’s vital that functioning reporting systems are in place and all staff members are confident in how to use them.”
How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your business’s approach to workplace health and safety and identify areas that need attention, including psychosocial hazards. Take the free WHS self-check