It is quite a few years since I was on the board of the ABC – yes, I know what you are thinking. Fat lot of good you did, Judith. And you are probably right.
But I just love the current efforts of the ABC to resist any meaningful disclosure of the pay packages of the top earning ABC ‘talent’. I hesistate to use the term worker or employee; certainly, in my day, quite a lot of the ‘talent’ was employed through service companies, which also employed members of their families. Even as a board member, it was difficult to extract any real information about the remuneration arrangements and levels of the radio and television presenters.
And yes, employing these people through service companies did probably make the ABC party to a form of tax avoidance, although the presenters would declare that they didn’t have any right of tenure as most ABC employees do. Mind you, I always thought that a number of these presenters were engaging in a high degree of hypocrisy by publicly banging on about the evils of individual contracts and WorkChoices while taking full advantage of individual contracts themselves.
THE ABC could be forced to disclose details of the pay packets of its top broadcasters and producers at programs such as Media Watch, Four Corners and Mornings with Jon Faine after it lost two appeals to block access to the information.
The national broadcaster received $1 billion in government funding in the last financial year and spent $486 million on wages and superannuation.
But the ABC does not want to provide a breakdown of who its biggest earners are.
The network lost its most recent appeal just before Christmas when the Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruled against it, rejecting the ABC’s arguments and saying some evidence it had put forward was not relevant and “of little assistance”.
A Freedom of Information request was lodged more than two years ago by the Herald and Weekly Times, seeking access to documents “dealing with salaries, or any payments” paid to program makers working on 13 programs, including those listed above, for the financial year ending 2010.
The ABC refused to hand over the documents, which include individual employment contracts, Australian Workplace Agreements, Individual Transitional Employment Agreements, pay slips and other “payment records”.
According to the ABC’s annual report for the 2012 financial year, 401 employees earned more than $150,000 each – an increase from 312 the previous year.
The ABC employs the equivalent of 4603 full-time employees.
You really have to laugh. According to the ABC Annual Report:
The ABC recognises its responsibility to the Australian people as a publicly-funded broadcaster, and adopts high standards of corporate governance.
Really? If it were to adopt high standards of corporate governance, it would not be fudging its remeration report, which is pretty much what was required of companies 15 years ago. All that can be found out are the earnings of the top six officers within bands and note that the term ‘officers’ excludes all presenters.
And openness and transparency as part of high standards of corporate governance? I don’t think so. Take these statements from the Annual Report.
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (“FOI Act”) gives the public the right to access documents held by the ABC. During the past year, the ABC received 30 requests for access to documents under the FOI Act. One request was granted, four were granted in part, 20 were refused and one was withdrawn. Four requests were still being processed at the end of the financial year. Of the 20 requests which were refused, 16 were outside the scope of the FOI Act. Part IIof Schedule 2 of the FOI Act specifically excludes documents relating to the ABC’s program material from the operation of the FOI Act.
Prior to the launch of the revised ABC Editorial Policies in April 2011 (see page 85), the ABC Editorial Policies included an aim to respond to complaints within 28 days. Between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011, ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs responded directly to 17 241 audience contacts.Of these, 11 833 (68.6%) received responseswithin 28 days.
In other words, use every excuse under the sun to withhold information from FOI requests and dither away while ‘handling’ complaints. (Recall the Finkelstein suggestion that complaints be handled within days … sure.) Note also that less than 10 per cent of complaints are ‘upheld’.
I had also forgotten what an incredibly SELF-CONGRATULATORY organisation the ABC is. If anything, it seems worse than it was during my tenure on the board. (Incidentally, the staff’s attitude to the board was completely dismissive, along the lines … well, you are here for a short time, we are here for ever, so we will ignore you.)
The Strategic Plan 2010 –13 commits the ABC to striving to maintain its leadership position as aninnovative and independent media organisationserving the needs of all Australians. It sets out six high-level strategic goals for the ABC:
Audience focused—to provide a range of mediaexperiences to meet the needs and expectations of diverse audiences
High quality—to consistently deliver content which reflects the ABC’s commitment to quality, independence and high editorial standards
Innovative—to pursue new ideas, opportunities and partnerships, and grow our capabilities for the future
Values based—to demonstrate ABC Values in every aspect of our work
Efficient—to maximise the efficient and effective use of resources
Responsible—to be visible and active in the community, setting high standards of social,environmental and regulatory responsibility.
But here’s the rub – WHEN THE ABC MARKS ITSELF ON THESE CRITERIA (sub-categories, included), THERE IS NOT ONE AREA IN WHICH IT DOES NOT REGARD ITS PERFORMANCE AS EITHER SATISFACTORY OR OUTSTANDING. I am not making this up.
Where do you begin?
Another thought – gross misrepresentation by the ABC in its Annual Report.
“In real terms, the ABC’s operational revenue has declined over time.”
Actually, not since 1997-98, it has not. And there were special reasons for the high figures in the mid 1980s.
And note the use of operational revenue. The government is for ever kicking in extras here and there, including of coure the now uncontestible Australia Network, which are not counted as operational revenue.
Do they all get trophies for effort like they gave to the kiddies for coming 17th out of 18 participants at Little Athetics?
Token
7 Jan 13 at 1:41 pm
Indeed, where do you begin. Here’s my start:
And they excel at it, reflecting ABC values as anti-business, anti-development, Gaia is good, etc etc.
It’s so entrenched they mostly don’t even realise it. Reminds me of Mr Mackey in South Park on drugs.
DavidLeyonhjelm
7 Jan 13 at 1:47 pm
ALPBC Gravy Train – stopping all stations to Northcote and Balmain.
H B Bear
7 Jan 13 at 1:49 pm
What an extraordinary story this is.
The salaries paid by taxpayers to ABC stars are top secret?
C.L.
7 Jan 13 at 1:50 pm
The ABC is wrong on so many levels. First and foremost it is a news organization – yes, it really is – suppressing news. It is taxpayer-funded and has twice refused to tell taxpayers how those funds are being spent.
The salary of just about every other public- funded position, from the prime minister down, is a matter of public record. Why should the ABC be any different.
It used to be an organization Australia could be proud of. Now it’s there to look after the leftoids.
The public deserves to know, for instance, what Faine gets for whining over the airwaves for about 20 hours a week.
And Another Thing
7 Jan 13 at 2:01 pm
I don’t expect Tone will be releasing a renumeration report for Snowcone Pty Ltd any time soon.
H B Bear
7 Jan 13 at 2:01 pm
Obviously the top ranking staff at the ABC see individual contacts are too good to share with the 99%.
Token
7 Jan 13 at 2:02 pm
Maybe the ABC has to pay large salaries to these select presenters in order to retain them – what with the likely competition among the other networks to snatch them up.
Hahahaaa!
Toiling Mass
7 Jan 13 at 2:30 pm
Out of interest, do the ABC shops get publically funded or are they privately run?
Andrew
7 Jan 13 at 2:34 pm
I don’t have a problem with the ‘talent’ using various legal tax strategies in order to minimise their tax liability.
However, if any single one of them – any of them – have ever uttered ‘greed’ or ‘fatcat’ or any other envy-driven dribble, then they ought to be fired on the spot, after issuing a grovelling public apology.
It’s funny how the noisy ones who call for income redistribution never put their hand in their pocket to lead by example. No, it’s always ‘greedy bosses’ and the like.
brc
7 Jan 13 at 2:39 pm
Oooo Toiling Mass you are naughty. Let’s see now there was Kerry O’Brien who detached from Auntie’s teat beckoned by Channel 10 to front a show was it called Assignment or Page One, nto successful at all in the competitive world of commercial reality. Kerry then hightailed it back to Auntie, couldn’t make a go of it, Ellen Fanning what happened to Ellen?
Phillip Clark, went to 2GB lasted a little while back at Auntie though, last I heard he was on ABC radio Broken Hill,or Bourke I’m sure he’d be still at his digs at beautiful Bronte, Mike Bailey, left to challenge Joe Hockey for the ALPBC, of course we had Maxine McKew not welcome back at Auntie for the time being.
Tintarella di Luna
7 Jan 13 at 2:41 pm
It will be hilarious to learn what Holmes gets paid for five minutes work a week on Media Watch. And does he get holiday pay for the three months he has off every year?
C.L.
7 Jan 13 at 2:41 pm
Not at all, I love the ABC. I wake up with Fran Kelly and I retire to bed with Philip Adams.
I very much appreciate the time and effort you put in towards keeping it vibrant, high quality and intellectually challenging.
Don’t let the philistines here convince you otherwise
Grey
7 Jan 13 at 2:43 pm
Then pay for it yourself. I would pay these fuckheads to go away, that’s about it.
.
7 Jan 13 at 2:46 pm
Ugghh what a thought.
Philip Adams sends so many people to sleep he should be on the Medicare Schedule.
H B Bear
7 Jan 13 at 2:49 pm
If individual compensation packages become publicly known imagine the hissy fits of jealous rage amongst the ‘talent’. Beautiful in its ugliness.
Not quite the same thing, but I remember Snow Cone denouncing Work Choices in very strident terms. It would be ironic (and massively funny) if he is employed under an individual agreement.
Keith
7 Jan 13 at 2:52 pm
No need. The taxpayer through their infinite wisdom is more than happy to pay the 30 cents a day for such an excellent, world-class service.
Aside from a few unhappy malcontents that is.
Grey
7 Jan 13 at 2:53 pm
LOL so true, you can see Faine’s house from Rushall station.
manalive
7 Jan 13 at 2:54 pm
Yes. I’m more convinced that Grey is the banned Metro.
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 2:55 pm
As usual a lefty tells me how I think and feel, and is wrong.
jumpnmcar
7 Jan 13 at 3:11 pm
Ah, the shops. In my day, they made a smallish profit competing on unfair terms with other retail outlets.
Is not counted as operational revenue.
Judith Sloan
7 Jan 13 at 3:12 pm
It would be interesting to know what dollars the taxpayer shells out to Red Kez to top and tail 4 Corners, which is often bought in, in any case.
Any guesses? North of $100K would be my guess.
Judith Sloan
7 Jan 13 at 3:13 pm
As an aside, i wonder how many Australians are actually net tax payers. Those that, in the wash up, pay even the $108pa to the Fed Govt.
(leaving aside that I recon Fed Govt employees essentially pay no tax from their pay packet )
jumpnmcar
7 Jan 13 at 3:20 pm
Ya think. Reckon it’s closer to $300 K
JC
7 Jan 13 at 3:23 pm
In an incoming Abbott government, the new communications minister will undoubtedly approve a corporate plan to transfer the production Units of the ABCLP into separate corporate entities (News, Retail, Drama, Metro Radio stations, Science) and place arms length contracts between what is left (rural radio) and these companies. The companies report under the Companies legislation. The companies can then be sold off at will. The remnant ABC can purchase content from these providers, or elsewhere. Costs are variabilised. All in the name of efficiency and paying down ALP debt. The new companies with new owners are free to sell their information content to the market.
I am sure it be be on Malcolm priority list. You know it makes sense. Grey will be happy to purchase his propaganda direct, rather than using recycled taxpayers dollars.
and this
Will
7 Jan 13 at 3:23 pm
No, actually if its all the same I would prefer the recycled taxpayer dollars. You know we need to do more recycling.
Grey
7 Jan 13 at 3:25 pm
opps
$108 = $0.30 x 365 days.
jumpnmcar
7 Jan 13 at 3:25 pm
So you agree you are a moocher
Will
7 Jan 13 at 3:26 pm
And worth every penny. I don’t see it as just payment for his thoughtful and compassionate introductions and summations – much as I value them.
I see it also in the value he provides in terms of mentoring younger journalists. I am sure Leigh Sales was channeling the Red Devil when she cornered Tony Abbott with such panache on 7:30 report.
Grey
7 Jan 13 at 3:28 pm
Grey, if you think he is worth every penny, I am happy to give you to opportunity to pay for it. directly, rather than mooch.
Will
7 Jan 13 at 3:30 pm
Maybe the FOI request misspelt ‘renumeration’ and the ABC didn’t know what it was requesting?
Michael
7 Jan 13 at 3:31 pm
You can actually have the opportunity of purchasing a stake in ABCLP News & Current Affairs Pty Ltd. I am sure both yourself and a great many other are more than happy to do so.
Will
7 Jan 13 at 3:32 pm
I expect so.
Grey
7 Jan 13 at 3:33 pm
Gab, I reckon he’s about on a par with Hammy.
blogstrop
7 Jan 13 at 3:35 pm
With about as many smarts as xevram.
blogstrop
7 Jan 13 at 3:35 pm
And the persistence of a steve.
blogstrop
7 Jan 13 at 3:36 pm
But it’s a shade of grey we could all live without, and even Jarrah would have to agree he’s just trolling.
blogstrop
7 Jan 13 at 3:36 pm
It can be Malcolm’s first cabinet submission – “A more efficient and effective ABC”. Can picture it now, amid the applause of the rest of Cabinet.
Will
7 Jan 13 at 3:37 pm
Blogstrop, I am only here after reading what wonderful senses of humor right wingers have compared to dour left wingers.
Grey
7 Jan 13 at 3:40 pm
He has the intellectual clout of Hammy.
Token
7 Jan 13 at 3:48 pm
The ABC does or used to do great kids shows, like Bananas in Pyjamas, so there’s that.
candy
7 Jan 13 at 3:48 pm
Then Grey you must have a wicked sense of sarcasm!
Fred Furkenburger
7 Jan 13 at 3:55 pm
Class warfare popps it’s ugly head up again.
kelly liddle
7 Jan 13 at 4:19 pm
The last info I had from about 2002 was that Red Kezza was raking in about $450,000 a year for the 7.30 Report, which paid for his Mosman mansion, just around the corner from Maxine McKew. But that was 10 years ago. The top salaries are probably inching towards 7 figures in 2013.
linecall
7 Jan 13 at 4:29 pm
Yep. Hammy’s his role model.
He started off differently and slightly interesting, however he couldn’t maintain that so has resorted to Hammy’s shtick: bland comments as contrary as possible.
Idiot.
jupes
7 Jan 13 at 4:45 pm
NOT ONE AREA IN WHICH IT DOES REGARD ITS PERFORMANCE AS EITHER SATISFACTORY OR OUTSTANDING
Should there be another not in there?
Wayneofperth
7 Jan 13 at 4:49 pm
This is secret men’s business. All is correct. Just trust the ABC.
stackja
7 Jan 13 at 4:51 pm
Andrew Denton would have to be the top earner these days. Is he still even on the damn station?
Dan
7 Jan 13 at 5:02 pm
Care to reveal your remuneration package Judith?
1735099
7 Jan 13 at 5:20 pm
I put this on another thread so apologies for the repetition:
Slightly OT but the ABC has another bit of alarmist crap stimulated by the current heatwave oppressing Australia [ie Summer]. This is typical:
More hot weather can easily lead to a vicious cycle that creates even more hot weather and higher electricity prices. Hot days lead to massive increases in the use of air conditioners around Australia and homes and offices fight off the heat. This kind of intensive energy adds to the problem of climate change and, not incidentally, is the reason power companies are ‘gold-plating’ their infrastructure.
“More hot weather can easily lead to a vicious cycle that creates even more hot weather”
I mean my IQ decreases just reading that; can you imagine what the IQ is of the fuckwit who wrote it.
But it is a brilliantly stupid concept applicable to all left wing values; more left wing verbal diarrhea leads to even more left wing verbal diarrhea; more AGW stupidity leads to even more AGW stupidity etc.
The point, apart from the nurturing of this abysmal idiocy from people who are better suited to stand on street corners and berate and harangue hapless passerbys, is that a truly representative viewpoint is suppressed at the abc; that and the fact our political reps actually take the abc seriously effectively means that the great majority of the Australian people are disenfranchised while similtaneously paying for a vile fringe viewpoint to practice onanism.
cohenite
7 Jan 13 at 5:26 pm
How is that relevant you fucking goose?
cohenite
7 Jan 13 at 5:28 pm
Of course they do, they peddle their AGW cult’s mumbo jumbo on every day that ends in a “y”.
Token
7 Jan 13 at 5:28 pm
Tintarella di Luna,
Ellen Fanning made Fine Line for which a number of sins could be excused. The scene in which Kerry O’Brien earnestly racks his brain trying to remember an instance of having made a mistake. He failed. Maxine McKew showing off her plummy accent that would make the most foppish Brit cringe in shame-the one she developed in QLD. Can’t have endeared herself to many with that documentary.
Frank
7 Jan 13 at 5:52 pm
‘..his thoughtful and compassionate introductions and summations’
Remember the ABC promos from a few years back that showed O’Brien musing reflectively about his life in and contribution to TV journalism. Among other things, he bloviated about how privileged he was compared to someone who only had one bowl of rice a day.
This sentiment struck me in particular as cheap, lazy and fatuous, and confirmed my opinion of O’Brien as just another connected and protected third rater. It was particuarly interesting that while O’Brien offered this piece of adolescent abstract compassion, the promo showed a very short (and presumably unintentional) glimpse of his bulging gut.
Des Deskperson
7 Jan 13 at 5:54 pm
Probably not the right thread, but that Tony Mohr fella from Cohenite’s link works for the Australian Conservation Foundation, annual report 2011 – 2012here.
It is a charitable organization and therefore exempt from certain levied taxes. Whatthefuckfor? Providing alms to Gaia? They spend more on staff and marketing than they receive in donations!
Dan
7 Jan 13 at 5:59 pm
Fixed Wayneofperth.
Numbers – you can go and have a look at the Westfield AR for my salary as a director to the last cent. The shareholders have every right to know.
News Corp also publishes a thorough remuneration report, with named persons and their salaries. Sadly, I am no where near the top.
My guess is that ABC is very unwise to resist providing this information. In the case of the BBC, all this information was eventually released and it was very embarassing, mainly because of the delays.
And to think the BBC was paying that twat Jonathan Ross over a million quid a year! What were the governors thinking? Oh, they didn’t know?
Judith Sloan
7 Jan 13 at 6:29 pm
“Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.”
sdog
7 Jan 13 at 6:36 pm
I would not have a clue what Prof. Sloan earns, but just from my knowledge of industry gossip about general pay rates for op-ed pieces by experts in general, I’d wager Prof. Sloan gets around $1,750 per article for The Oz. The good Professor is free to laugh me off the face off the earth, or check the security of her bank account!
linecall
7 Jan 13 at 6:38 pm
What business is it of anyone?
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 6:43 pm
All if Judith’s directorships renums are on the public record, you goose.
Look it up if you’re that curious.
JC
7 Jan 13 at 6:45 pm
Gab
None of course. My point is – that unlike the ABC – those subject to market forces, can bet that information/knowledge about how their compensation is calculated is very broadly known, and therefore not very hard to work out with some accuracy if you really care that much.
linecall
7 Jan 13 at 6:46 pm
Oh please stop with the act, linecall. Judith had already addressed the issue before you stuck your snout into it.
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 6:47 pm
Gab
Sorry?
linecall
7 Jan 13 at 6:49 pm
Linecall – out!
blogstrop
7 Jan 13 at 6:51 pm
Linecall
Judith works as a journalist for a private organization. It may be news to you, but there is a slight difference between private and public organizations.
Dude, you moniker misrepresents reality. You’re so off line they need a telescope to find the ball.
JC
7 Jan 13 at 6:52 pm
Read it slowly, linecall. I can’t dumb it down to accommodate you.
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 6:52 pm
Go back to 6.46 pm and read carefully.
linecall
7 Jan 13 at 6:55 pm
Nobody should bother to read you carefully, Linecall.
blogstrop
7 Jan 13 at 6:58 pm
I’ve posted this elsewhere but it belongs here too.
Backstory:
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 6:58 pm
Sorry! Wrong thread!
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 6:59 pm
Seriously, do ABC employees have ‘tenure’. How bizarre, and on what grounds – freedom to preach? Even universities don’t use the T word any more.
Lazlo
7 Jan 13 at 7:37 pm
The only thing that matters about Their ABC is what PM Abbott is going to do about its status as the left’s taxpayer funded media arm.
This means you Scotty, you defender of the Charter you.
Diversity of opinion from the Welfare State to rabid Greenoid nutter depopulation theory won’t cut it comrade.
I reckon you’ll get an Arts qango to “run”.
Alfonso
7 Jan 13 at 8:04 pm
Judith – has any part of your salary ever been paid for from the public purse?
1735099
7 Jan 13 at 8:29 pm
Has yours, 1735099?
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 8:31 pm
Well, you can bet on one thing – the whiny, sanctimonious, hypocritical li’l biatches don’t come cheap…
Wankers.
Rabz
7 Jan 13 at 8:34 pm
She was on the ABC board numbnuts. Do you have a point apart from your head?
The point of the thread is the outrageous renumeration given to abc staff who collectively represent a very narrow and parasitic viewpoint and therefore contradict the charter and purpose of the abc.
cohenite
7 Jan 13 at 8:40 pm
The Numerical Numpty has just proved that he is an ignorant, nosy, obnoxious, mannerless oaf. Not that we did not already know that.
Put up or shut up you sad excuse for a weak-minded moron. You opened the batting so tell us how much you’ve ripped off from the Queensland taxpayer over the years. They sure didn’t get their money’s worth.
Megan
7 Jan 13 at 8:47 pm
Could I just correct one point.
These characters might be paid large sums of money from the taxpayers, but they do not earn that money.
Boambee John
7 Jan 13 at 8:47 pm
I see where you’re coming from, Boambee however I believe they work very hard at promoting the government. They toil everyday, all day long telling us how wonderful and righteous the ALP/Unions/Greens are; how evil da Abbott. It’s an almighty effort on their part. Okay, they get their talking points from the ALP early in the day, still, they weave such spin you can almost see the perspiration on their oily little brown noses.
Gab
7 Jan 13 at 8:52 pm
How about – go fuck yourself, fuckhead.
We’re sick of paying our taxes to support Combet’s fake press conferences run by his girlfriend’s 100% taxpayer subsidised firm to push the junk science and economics behind the carbon tax.
Again, go fuck yourself.
.
7 Jan 13 at 9:12 pm
Andrew
7 Jan 13 at 9:26 pm
Sinc.Sinc.Sinc,
Numbers just broke fred an is bean fredind an i did nuffink rongue (this time).
JimD
7 Jan 13 at 9:33 pm
Old commo traitor, have you EVER earned a dollar in your protected existence that I or the taxpayers of Queensland didn’t pay for? Didn’t think so, you fucking parasite.
Tom
7 Jan 13 at 9:42 pm
How many times can Numbers be-clown himself in one thread?
Token
7 Jan 13 at 9:46 pm
“Seriously, do ABC employees have ‘tenure’”
Lazlo, a quick troll through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 indicates that ongoing ABC employees seem to have a great deal of protection, including through complex review and appeal processes, against involuntary redeployment or termination. They certainly seem to be better protected than Commonwealth (APS) public servants. In fact, given the overall trends toward simplification and streamlining of redeployment and separation in public sector employment, the ABC seems strangely archaic.
The ABC Act actually includes a Tenure Appeal Board (s. 57) as part of its protections for staff against arbitrary redeployment.
Des Deskperson
7 Jan 13 at 9:56 pm
The fred was? Oh yes, remuneration of Absolute Bloody Communist (aka ABC)presenters. As Ms Sloan was a board member her remuneration is outside the parameters of the fred. Re-align your sights Pte W.
JimD
7 Jan 13 at 10:00 pm
I once worked there. It’s not called the unsackable staff collective for nothing. I’ve never heard of a single staffer being sacked for laziness or incompetence. It’s a sheltered public service workshop where not a single performance metric used in the real world applies. It can’t be reformed. It can never give taxpayers value. It has become an activist political organisation. It needs new private owners to find its market. There is a market. But it can never represent the public.
Tom
7 Jan 13 at 10:19 pm
“(Incidentally, the staff’s attitude to the board was completely dismissive, along the lines … well, you are here for a short time, we are here for ever, so we will ignore you.)”.
Sounds more like Fairfaux pre Absolutely Bloody Criminal(aka ABC) Newts24 taking over the baton.
JimD
7 Jan 13 at 10:26 pm
Might be tricky for him since he only seems to have one eye.
Megan
7 Jan 13 at 10:28 pm
Wow, just wow. And I thought universities were neolithic in their enterprise agreements. I speak from experience. But unis have had to wise up a bit IR-wise in the last 15 years because they have to compete – a term incomprehensible to the ABC.
We have a real dinosaur here. Nothing will change it other than some form of competition for their rent.
Lazlo
7 Jan 13 at 10:54 pm
Des, does that mean that their conditions are subject to this Act rather than an enterprise agreement? If not, which instrument has precedence? (Judith might know about this)
Lazlo
7 Jan 13 at 11:03 pm
Nice name @ 10.28pm,
Excellent perception.
JimD
7 Jan 13 at 11:06 pm
Imagine the pay rise Tony Jones and Jon Faine would receive if the ecofascists (aka Greens) got into power?
Andrew
7 Jan 13 at 11:15 pm
Des and Judith: did my own homework on the ABC EA, so no need to respond.
Still leaves lots of wriggle room for litigants and unions I reckon but..
Lazlo
7 Jan 13 at 11:33 pm
Lazlo,
The young and naive wrote the Unfair Work Act in such a manner that not only they can’t make head nor tail of it the old and wise are scratching their heads as well.
As Mrs Sloan is presumably neither the former nor ancient with nits, perhaps, but watch out she’s more a conservative economist rather than a labour lawyer or a labour economist with magnified rear vision.
JimD
7 Jan 13 at 11:42 pm
Lazlo, I’m not sure that the EA, while overiding the Act in certain areas, provides much more flexibility in terms of getting rid of unwanted or incompetent staff.
Check out, for example, cl 24 on managing underperformance, which proscribes a long and complex ‘second chance’ process before terminaton can even be considered as an option in managing efficiency. And check out the extraordinarily generous redundancy payment arrangement in cl. 55!!
Des Deskperson
8 Jan 13 at 9:13 am
Agree Des. Underperformance is impossible to manage effectively under provisions like these. The unions know it too.
Lazlo
8 Jan 13 at 12:14 pm
@Gab
I have been paid for from the public purse (including when I was a Nasho). Currently I run a small business.
But then, unlike Judith Sloan, and many others on this site, I’m not into the neo-McCarthyism of labelling everyone who works in the public sector a parasite.
And I’m still waiting for Judith’s reply.
1735099
8 Jan 13 at 12:39 pm
Vietnam again. Fucck!
JC
8 Jan 13 at 12:40 pm
I can just imagine the old school master using that line. 1735099 you’re not a man amongst children here – you’re talking to adults.
Sinclair Davidson
8 Jan 13 at 12:43 pm
McCarthy was, for the most part, correct.
blogstrop
8 Jan 13 at 12:43 pm
Spuds
Have you considered the fact that people may not reply to you because they simply don’t like you? You think that’s possible?… not speaking for Judith though, as I have no insight.
JC
8 Jan 13 at 12:46 pm
Adults?
On this site – surely you jest!
Adults answer legitimate questions.
Children put fingers in their ears and ignore anything unpleasant.
1735099
8 Jan 13 at 12:47 pm
Shut up spuds. Go away. Go write about your time in Vietnam.
JC
8 Jan 13 at 12:48 pm
As you well know. So why do you do it?
Sinclair Davidson
8 Jan 13 at 12:52 pm
I don’t know when and for how long Professor Sloan was a member of the ABC Board, but according to the latest Remuneration tribunal det, a member of the ABC Board currently earns $52,910 p.a. That’s around the same level as the top of the APS 4 range in the Australian Public Service, not a great deal!!
Des Deskperson
8 Jan 13 at 2:10 pm
@Des Deskperson
Well OK – but I didn’t ask you – I asked her, and she hasn’t replied.
Apparently being paid by the taxpayer is OK so long as you conform to the groupthink expressed here.
The hypocrisy is stark.
1735099
8 Jan 13 at 2:19 pm
Mc Carthyism?
Why the hell not. You have said you think people who are materialistic ought to be crucified, and you were’t joking.
Personally I take that as a death threat and the authorities ought to be alerted.
.
8 Jan 13 at 2:20 pm
@Noname
You can’t read (or can’t think – or both).
Nowhere did I say anyone should be crucified. I pointed out what became of the last person who chased the money-changers out of the temple. Traders are the 21st century equivalent of money-changers.
They contribute nothing, provide no service, but increase their own wealth at the expense of the workers and clients of the entity.
They are spivs and thieves – the real parasites.
1735099
8 Jan 13 at 2:55 pm
Putting forward a view and backing away from it when you are challenged.
You are a despicable moral coward.
.
8 Jan 13 at 2:57 pm
You can’t look at any contract in isolation.
Kez provided a lifetime of service to the nation. He is a bit like Ricky Ponting – management ask him to move aside to allow the next generation of cricketers to come forward. But cricket doesn’t then demand Ricky clean the toilets at Bellrive oval for minimum wage.
Kerry was a leading gladiator in the battle of the people versus vested interests, like Ricky he is still a valued asset for mentoring and coaching junior players.
Grey
8 Jan 13 at 3:06 pm
Lost the Ashes he should have been sacked years ago?
Sinclair Davidson
8 Jan 13 at 3:10 pm
What a joke. He was a thought leader for middle class, inner city groupthink.
Lazlo
8 Jan 13 at 3:10 pm
i thought Kerry O’Brien did some great interviews with non-politicians, he always made their stories really interesting.
When he interviewed Mr Howard tho’ I thought he had a sort of smirking look about him in the last year or two, I think he did not like Mr Howard.
candy
8 Jan 13 at 3:22 pm
It is true that like Michael Clarke’s procession of double centuries, Leigh Sales forensic demolition of Tony Abbott does appear to overshadow Kerry O’Brien’s end of career performances.
But Ricky and Kerry’s records still stand very proud.
Grey
8 Jan 13 at 3:25 pm
na really… I thought he loved him.
Anyone ever seen Kerry stomach? He’s not as skinny as he appears on TV, as he’s got one of those beer bellies.
In fact he’s basically a beer belly on legs.
JC
8 Jan 13 at 3:27 pm
this is going to be a good one.
Lol.. yea, he did it for pure altruism.
Are you on ice? They will literally need a jack hammer and bullsdozer to get the fucker outta building as he’s on the best wicket possible. Who else gets paid 100′s of thousands to espouse hard line left wing ideology? Okay Fat Tony Jones does and the rest of the red brigade… but the point is still valid.
I’m sure Kerry’s contract stipulates he doesn’t clean toilets, but it should.
You mean brainwashing?
You’re an idiot Greys.
JC
8 Jan 13 at 3:33 pm
How is Piers Ackerman’s stomach looking these days? Last time I ran into him at the wall at Kings Cross it was fairly substantial. Leigh Sales’s is like a washboard though.
Trust JC to cut to the very essence of what makes a good journalist.
Grey
8 Jan 13 at 3:34 pm
Greys… Piers is a portly soul. Everyone knows that, you dullard.
But how many people know about Kerry being a beer belly on thin legs?
My comment is newsworthy and interesting. Yours on the other hand is just spiteful leftist swill.
Fuck off.
JC
8 Jan 13 at 3:40 pm
No, they allowed Ricky to take his skills which have been well marketed on a national stage for many years to another industry. Ponting’s Sports Management company has done well in the commercial world.
As you note, Red Kez is so unemployable he had to be parked in a cruisy job after wrecking the 7:30 brand.
Token
8 Jan 13 at 3:40 pm
Hungry polar bear wants to dine on a BBC idiot. I’m torn on this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIql1ZpHovs&NR=1&feature=endscreen
JC
8 Jan 13 at 3:55 pm
oops wrong fred.
JC
8 Jan 13 at 3:55 pm
Marvelous clip!
I can fully understand what he is saying here. Thankfully the reporter emerged unscathed. Possibly the fact that the bear’s nose was a thousand times more sensitive than his own might have something to do with it.
Grey
8 Jan 13 at 4:02 pm
What do you expect if you plonk yourself in a box in the middle of a wild animal’s habitat.
candy
8 Jan 13 at 4:10 pm
Sinc, once again you own the grey, and we’ve seen the form guide.
blogstrop
8 Jan 13 at 8:52 pm
Kerry O’Brien, couldn’t crack it in the commercial world of having to deliver so scurried back quick smart to get back into the iron-lung at Aunty’s place.
Tintarella di Luna
8 Jan 13 at 9:06 pm