{
  "id": 11768884,
  "title": "Cancer Council Qld backs chief executive amid bullying lawsuit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/cancer-council-qld-backs-chief-executive-amid-bullying-lawsuit",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T21:05:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-04/cancer-council-qld-research-boss-alleges-bullying-ceo/107213572"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sandi Hayes, a former research director at Cancer Council Queensland, has filed a lawsuit against the charity, its CEO Matt Gardiner, and recently appointed chairman Todd Everitt, alleging that she was wrongfully dismissed due to alleged bullying and a dysfunctional workplace relationship. This lawsuit adds to a series of internal issues at the organization, which has been facing declining financial performance, high staff turnover, and recent staff departures. The charity, established in 1961, supports cancer patients through counselling, accommodation, a wig service, and research. It has recently reported increased service levels and research investment, but an internal review in February indicated a drop in staff satisfaction levels.",
  "summary": "The lawsuit filed by Sandi Hayes, former director of research at the Cancer Council Queensland, marks the latest upheaval for a charity supporting thousands of patients and raising tens of millions of dollars annually.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}