DIRECTORS OF CORPORATIONS – DISMISSAL OF – AUSTRALIA

ABC rebuked over settlement

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jennifer Duke
The Age – Page: 12 : 4-Mar-19

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says the federal government has been given no details of the ABC’s confidential settlement with former MD Michelle Guthrie. A spokesman for Fifield says the government would prefer complete transparency regarding any portion of the settlement that will be funded by taxpayers. The Australia Institute, the Institute of Public Affairs and advocacy group ABC Alumni have also urged transparency, but a spokesman for shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland has indicated that it is a matter for the ABC.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, ABC ALUMNI, ABC AND FRIENDS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Guthrie turns to Fair Work with complaint against ABC

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 19-Oct-18

The Fair Work Commission has received an adverse action claim against the ABC from Michelle Guthrie following her dismissal as MD in late September. Should the case proceed to the Federal Court, Guthrie could potentially seek unlimited compensation for lost remuneration, given that she was sacked only halfway through her five-year contract. Guthrie could also seek compensation for hurt and suffering. Her annual salary of around $900,000 at the ABC is above the threshold for an unfair dismissal claim.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, MAURICE BLACKBURN PTY LTD, JOHNSON WINTER AND SLATTERY

Entire ABC board under pressure to go

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Aaron Patrick, Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 28-Sep-18

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for the ABC’s whole board to be replaced following the resignation of chairman Justin Milne and the sacking of MD Michelle Guthrie. Meanwhile, Labor has called for appointments to the board to be made independently of government. The remaining board members have come under scrutiny for continuing to support Milne for several days after they had heard allegations by Guthrie that Milne had asked her to sack journalists who had been the subject of complaints by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, OZEMAIL LIMITED, MYOB GROUP LIMITED – ASX MYO, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

Coalition launches inquiry into ABC email revelations as chairman Justin Milne survives board talks

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jennifer Duke
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 27-Sep-18

There is growing pressure for ABC chairman Justin Milne to resign in the wake of further revelations about the sacking of MD Michelle Guthrie. The federal government will investigate claims that Milne had asked Guthrie to sack the ABC’s chief economics correspondent Emma Alberici following a complaint from former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull about her political coverage. The media has reported that Milne had sent Guthrie an email stating that the government "hated" Alberici and that she must go. Labor has proposed a Senate inquiry into the revelations surrounding Guthrie’s dismissal, and it has accused the Coalition of political interference at the public broadcaster.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, GOOGLE INCORPORATED

Crisis engulfs ABC chairman

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Darren Davidson, Brad Norington
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 27-Sep-18

ABC employees have held a meeting at the public broadcaster’s headquarters in Sydney, with more than 350 backing a resolution calling for chairman Justin Milne to resign. In addition to seeking the dismissal of Emma Alberici, it has been revealed that Milne had asked MD Michelle Guthrie to sack the ABC’s political editor Andrew Probyn following a meeting with Malcolm Turnbull. Milne has been defended by two fellow NBN board members, Ziggy Switkowski and Kerry Schott, who say there are no grounds for him to be removed from the ABC’s board.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NBN CO LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Guthrie’s fear of looking like idiot

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Deborah Cornwall, Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 1 & 8 : 26-Sep-18

The ABC’s former MD Michelle Guthrie defended her performance in the role at a meeting on 13 September at which she was asked to resign. She told ABC chairman Justin Milne and board member Donny Walford that she had made much progress in a transformation program, including a restructuring that significantly cut the public broadcaster’s management ranks. Guthrie asked to be allowed to remain in the role for at least another year so she could complete the transformation program. She may pursue legal action over her sacking only halfway through her five-year term.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEW CHAMBERS, JOHNSON WINTER AND SLATTERY, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Blackham investors in bid to dump Gutnick

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew Burrell
The Australian – Page: 20 : 22-Jul-14

Mining entrepreneur Joseph Gutnick in 2013 started building a stake of 27% in Western Australian gold producer Blackham Resources. However a dispute over his alleged failure to honour a funding deal that involved convertible notes worth $A6m in mid-July 2014 led to his removal as chair and a law suit. In response Gutnick requisitioned a stockholders’ vote to relieve MD Bryan Dixon and non-executive directors Greg Miles and Alan Thom of their duties, and to instead install Ian Daymond and Stuart Munroe on the board. In the latest step, 19% of investors have called for a meeting at which to oust Gutnick completely

CORPORATES
BLACKHAM RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX BLK, GREAT CENTRAL GOLD PTY LTD, POLO RESOURCES LIMITED, LIONGOLD CORPORATION LIMITED, ACADIAN MINING CORPORATION, SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA