<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former chief executive of The Wiggles claims he was undermined by the blue Wiggle in front of staff after raising concerns about friends and family members being </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/employment" rel="" target="_blank" title="employed"><span>employed</span></a><span> by the children's entertainment group.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Luke O'Neill says he was denied bonuses and excluded from meetings before being dismissed with no reasonable basis in documents filed with the Federal Court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has launched legal action against The Wiggles, as well as Blue Wiggle Anthony Field and the group's general counsel Matthew Salgo.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-shooting-live-updates-latest-news-headlines/7dcdf6e1-5c00-4554-8d22-cc74f2e1f007" rel="" target="_blank" title="Two officers killed, one injured in shooting at rural Victoria property"><strong><span>Two officers killed, one injured in shooting at rural Victoria property</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Field questioned O'Neill's competence and "undermined him" in front of more than a dozen staff at a meeting in February, the documents claim.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>O'Neill then complained to Luke Field, the Blue Wiggle's nephew and the group's general manager commercial, about his uncle's behaviour in the meeting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It came months after the chief executive complained about a different nephew being hired to work on the production of upcoming album </span><em><span>The Tree of Wisdom</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/wiggles-australia-court-lawsuit/be4d3be3-b44b-4163-9f17-3cf15fefd4e4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>O'Neill also took issue with Field implementing a bonus scheme for a friend and his daughter's boyfriend "without approval and in contrast with the usual employee bonus scheme," according to the documents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Field then allegedly took steps to reduce O'Neill's roles and responsibilities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That included excluding him from meetings with department store Kmart about selling branded toys, and emailing all staff about an intention to remove a tour promoter without prior consultation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>O'Neill made multiple other complaints about staffing and other decisions allegedly made by Field without approval.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He eventually complained to the group's director, Red Wiggle Simon Pryce, in April that the decisions were creating budget overruns, endangering his bonus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/iran-orchestrated-at-least-two-antisemitic-attacks-in-australia-anthony-albanese-says/d0cede9a-6c94-4f68-b86d-29099be3f514" rel="" target="_blank" title="Iran orchestrated at least two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil, PM says Iran orchestrated at least two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil, PM says"><strong><span>Iran orchestrated at least two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil, PM says Iran orchestrated at least two antisemitic attacks on Australian soil, PM says</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pryce agreed his performance justified a raise after the three-decade-old group's earnings increased from $2 million in the 2023 financial year to a forecast $6.5 million to $7 million in 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But O'Neill was dismissed in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He alleges the dismissal was unlawful and an adverse action for him exercising his workplace rights and came with no reasonable basis, prior warning, adverse feedback or performance management.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A bonus payment of more than $86,000, made in July, was less than what he alleges he was owed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Field, Salgo and The Wiggles are yet to file their defence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The case is due in court for its first hearing on September 8.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>O'Neill began working for The Wiggles in a consultancy role in April 2023 before becoming chief executive in January 2024, tasked with implementing strategies to grow the group's revenue, maintain the budget and oversee hiring decisions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Wiggles formed in 1991 and are among Australia's top-earning and most widely beloved entertainment groups, winning multiple ARIA awards and being inducted in its hall of fame in 2011.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Field is the last remaining member of the original line-up, which has expanded over time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>