PUBLIC BROADCASTING – AUSTRALIA

ABC execs paid bonuses to stay

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 12-Nov-18

Sources within the ABC have indicated that its board approved bonuses to retain a number of senior executives after Michelle Guthrie succeeded Mark Scott as MD in 2016. Acting MD David ­Anderson is said to be among the executives who received a retention bonus. Former COO David Pendleton, who resigned in 2017, is also said to have been offered such a bonus. Executive remuneration at the public broadcaster has come under scrutiny after its latest annual report showed that bonus payments exceeded $2m in 2017-18.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Bonuses risk igniting ABC powder keg

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Original article by Deborah Cornwall, Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 3 : 7-Nov-18

ABC journalists have raised the prospect of industrial action over severe staff shortages at a time when the public broadcaster’s executives are receiving large bonuses. Members of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s ABC house committee have sought meetings with acting chairman David Anderson to express the journalists’ concerns, but he has declined to do so. Liberal senator Eric Abetz is also seeking an explanation for the ABC’s decision to give one executive a bonus of more than $230,000 in 2017-18.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

‘ABC wallowing in money’: Abetz takes swipe at $250,000 bonus

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 7 : 6-Nov-18

Liberal senator Eric Abetz has criticised the ABC’s executive remuneration policy, arguing that the public broadcaster needs to justify its excessively high salaries. Abetz was responding to revelations that one ABC executive was paid more than $692,000 in 2017-18, including a bonus of $232,500. He adds that the ABC and its supporters cannot complain about lack of sufficient funding while paying exorbitant salaries.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, FRIENDS OF THE ABC, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ABC boss vows to probe Foley harassment claim

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Original article by Andrew Clennell
The Australian – Page: 9 : 24-Oct-18

The ABC is under further scrutiny in the wake of the recent management upheaval, after acting MD David Anderson appeared before the Senate estimates committee. He said that he had only recently been made aware of allegations that New South Wales Opposition Leader Luke Foley had sexually harassed a female ABC journalist, and that no formal complaint had been lodged regarding the alleged incident. Anderson said that the public broadcaster will undertaken an investigation into the allegation, which was the subject of media reports in May. Foley has denied the allegation.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Guthrie turns to Fair Work with complaint against ABC

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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.

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

I’m ready to lead ABC full-time, says fill-in boss

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich, Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 2 : 18-Oct-18

David Anderson has expressed interest in becoming the ABC’s MD if he is offered the role. Anderson has been acting MD following the dismissal of Michelle Guthrie in late September. He says that maintaining the public broadcaster’s independence would one of his top priorities in the role. Meanwhile, ABC veteran Michael Mason has resigned as director of regional and local content; he has stressed that his departure is unrelated to the ABC’s recent leadership turmoil.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Guthrie, Milne in sights of senators

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 3 : 17-Oct-18

The Senate will hold an inquiry into the recent leadership turmoil at the ABC, which led to the dismissal of MD Michelle Guthrie and the resignation of chairman Justin Milne. The terms of reference for the inquiry include investigating allegations of political interference at the ABC. The Greens will push for Guthrie, Milne and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to appear before the inquiry, which is slated to report its findings in late March.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Hywood in the frame for ABC chairman role

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 19 : 16-Oct-18

Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood has declined to comment on speculation that he could be a contender to succeed former ABC chairman Justin Milne. Hywood will step down in late 2018 if Fairfax’s proposed merger with Nine Entertainment Company proceeds. The field of potential candidates to replace Milne is said to include lawyer Danny Gilbert, former Telstra CEO David Thodey and current governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, WPP AUNZ LIMITED – WPP, OGILVY AUSTRALIA, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Board ordered inquiry before Guthrie’s firing

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 5-Oct-18

The ABC board has advised it decided on 23 September to hire an external adviser to investigate claims raised by then MD Michelle Guthrie against then chairman Justin Milne. Guthrie was sacked on the day after its decision, while Milne resigned a few days later. Guthrie claims that Milne had tried to pressure her to sack journalists because they had upset the federal government. It is understood that the external adviser has not yet been in contact with Guthrie, while the board has stated that as the investigation is ongoing that it will not comment further on the matter.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Coalition ignored best ABC choices

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Original article by Stephen Brook, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 3 : 2-Oct-18

The process for selecting ABC board members has come under scrutiny following the resignation of chairman Justin Milne. In announcing his appointment, the government had said that the independent nominations panel had recommended Milne for the role. However, former panel member Neil Brown says the panel had nominated five contenders and said they were all qualified for the role, but this had not constituted a recommendation. Brown notes that some ABC board members were also appointed despite not having been nominated by the panel. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the next ABC chairman must have bipartisan support.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)