Anthony Flannery, former Ten news boss and external affairs director for Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, has landed a top gig as the chief of NSW Police’s media unit.
Flannery will be the sixth person to hold the role in three years following a series of controversies.
Anthony Flannery has been appointed as NSW Police executive director of public affairs, beginning in April.Credit: SMH
The $360,000 job involves advising Police Commissioner Karen Webb on her media performances, informing Police Minister Yasmin Catley on “sensitive matters”, and overseeing the broader media unit.
Former Seven chief of staff Andrew Frampton has been appointed to the role of director of media and public affairs.
Flannery, who has also held various positions at Nine, which owns this masthead, was poached from a television role in New Zealand to work at Network Ten as the head of news, current affairs and operations in 2012.
After less than three years, he moved to Vodafone to lead their corporate media teams before he was poached again by mining magnate Forrest in 2020 to become external affairs director at his family’s private commercial group Tattarang and philanthropic organisation Minderoo Foundation. He left Minderoo in July 2024.
Anthony Flannery’s $360,000 job involves advising Commissioner Karen Webb on her media performances.Credit: Rhett Wyman
While working with the Forrests, he oversaw Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s $35 billion split. He will finish the Tattarang role in March.
Flannery’s tenure as the NSW Police executive director of public affairs will start in April.
The high-profile position has been marred with controversy. The last person to be offered the role, former producer at Seven’s Spotlight program Steve Jackson, had his temporary appointment rescinded after photos of him sitting next to a naked socialite surfaced.
Concerns were also raised about his relationship with Bruce Lehrmann, and a financial deal with the former Liberal staffer in exchange for an interview on Seven’s flagship current affairs show.
Liz Deegan, a former News Corp editor, held the role before him but was terminated in March 2024 less than a year into the job following criticism of Webb’s handling of major events.
Deegan oversaw the publicity regarding the Tasering of 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland and the alleged murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by then-serving officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.
When Webb was sworn in as the state’s first female police commissioner in February 2022, she made Grant Williams, the former executive director of public affairs who advised outgoing commissioner Mick Fuller, redundant. Executive media adviser and former television producer Alexandra Hodgkinson also left her role in December 2022.
Adam Wallace, former senior media director for NSW Health and NSW Ambulance, acted in the job between April and August 2024 on a temporary contract.
The role manages an annual budget of $7.88 million and has a financial delegation of up to $500,000.
A spokesperson for NSW Police said Flannery and Frampton’s roles were made through a suitability assessment process. NSW Police is still actively recruiting for the executive adviser role at the Office of the Commissioner.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.