Roy Morgan Locked Out of Melbourne HQ

Australian market and opinion specialist Roy Morgan Research was locked out of its offices in Collins Street, Melbourne yesterday, following a dispute with its landlord over a lift. However, at an emergency hearing this morning, the court granted the firm the right to re-enter the building.

Located in the city's banking and financial district, the eleven-storey office block was acquired from Roy Morgan by IIG (Impact Investment Group) last year, with the former given the option to lease it back for ten years. The polling firm is the sole tenant in the building, where it employs about 300 staff.

After yesterday's eviction, Roy Morgan explained in a statement that the dispute is over IIG's plans to put in a replacement lift, which will block access to the Collins Street entrance building for at least six months. Because of this issue, Roy Morgan has been withholding rent since October, as it believes the landlord has broken the terms of the lease. According to the firm, IIG had 'refused to negotiate, mediate, discuss, or in any way resolve the issues of the dispute'.

Following a failed attempt to be heard at the Supreme Court on Friday, IIG de-activated all security passes for the building, changed the locks, and put security guards outside without giving any notice. This morning, Judge Clyde Croft of the Supreme Court criticised IIG's decision to lock out the tenant, and gave Roy Morgan permission to re-enter the building. Executive Chairman Gary Morgan was ordered to pay just over $730k in rental arrears, until the case is heard in February.

Yesterday, Morgan expressed his concern about the stress caused to staff so close to Christmas, adding: 'The action taken by IIG in locking Roy Morgan Research out of its premises is not only illegal, it is vexatious and the information provided to the media is mischievous, wrong in fact and defamatory with potentially large damages.'

Web site: www.roymorgan.com .