Lisa Wilkinson has made the shocking revelation she knew about the sexual harassment allegations against Don Burke for 25 years.
The journalist confirmed what many others have said: Don’s behaviour was no secret, merely tolerated.
“It was an open secret, and it was commonly known that women and co-workers claimed they had been bullied or harassed by Burke,” Wilkinson said at a Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Of Commerce Christmas lunch.
“That was really well known, but it takes bravery to come forward knowing there could be ramifications.”
The knowledge that speaking out against a harasser would most likely result in problems solely for the victim has been emphasised as the avalanche of sexual assault allegations continue to flood in.
“When you come into a culture that’s well established, everybody has this unspoken set of rules, (such as) this behaviour is acceptable, and there’s not a lot that isn’t, as long as it’s kept under wraps,” Wilkinson added.
“The insidious and omnipresent boys’ club,” she said last month at a Melbourne event. “You can take it from me, that boys’ club well and truly exists, but it has to stop.”
Yesterday, Time Magazine named their Person of the Year to ‘The Silence Breakers’ – the victims who catalysed the ‘Harvey Weinstein reckoning’.
Wilkinson told the luncheon she feels a change is coming as women come together to seek change in a flawed system.
She warned the Harvey Weinsteins of the world can no longer hide; a sentiment proving true as one-by-one, men previously revered are being ruined by mounting allegations.
