The Scoop: ‘Brutal and cold’ staff cuts at Channels 7 and 9

Inside sources have revealed the brutal way staff at Seven News’ Brisbane studios were told they were gone as the TV network makes major cuts. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP

There have been significant lay-offs at Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment.

Following a week of announcements about significant lay-offs for media giants Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media, Scoop can reveal that Channel 7 in Brisbane is facing further disruption after the sudden resignation of its veteran operations manager Craig Dyer.

After more than 20 years with the network, Dyer last week announced his immediate resignation in a letter to colleagues.

His departure follows a series of forced redundancies at the network’s Mount Coot-Tha base, affecting several employees under his supervision.

Two news cameramen have been let go, in addition to a long-serving technical support employee, a news producer and other behind-the-scenes staff.

Sources within the network disclosed to Scoop that one of the cameramen received the devastating news of his redundancy while on assignment.

Interrupted during a shoot, he was swiftly summoned back to the network’s Mount Coot-Tha studios, where he was informed that his services were no longer required.

Surviving employees were told of the redundancies in a meeting late on Wednesday afternoon.

One insider described all of the Brisbane-based redundancies as “brutal” and “cold”, adding that they had cast a sombre mood across the network’s Mount Coot-Tha base.

The person also revealed that staff heard about the axing of popular weatherman Paul Burt when it was reported by The Courier-Mail, saying it was not disclosed in the internal announcement.

Paul Burt is one of the casualties from Channel 7. Picture: Jerad Williams

Meanwhile, over at Nine Entertainment, workers are still waiting to hear just how many people will be let go in Queensland following the announcement 200 jobs would be cut.

But Scoop has been told that “Brisbane favourites” may largely be spared from this wave of redundancies.

Only 38 job losses are anticipated from television news and current affairs crews nationally, with the remainder impacting digital and head office roles.

The cull has led to social media-led calls for some of the networks’ big earners to take a pay cut, including Queensland star Karl Stefanovic, who reportedly earns $1.5 million a year, to face the axe or at least take a pay cut, as part of efforts to preserve other jobs.

Similarly, Sophie Monk, another Queensland native and host of popular shows like Beauty and the Geek and Love Island Australia, has also come under scrutiny for her substantial earnings, hovering around $800,000 annually.

WHEN TAY TAY CHOOSES YOU

VRG GRL founders Daniella Dionyssiou and Natalia Suesskow

What happens when the world’s biggest star wears one of your dresses?

Your phone, email and website goes into meltdown, that’s what.

When billionaire singing sensation Taylor Swift was spotted in a crochet dress from Brisbane fashion label VRG GRL during an outing in London with her boyfriend NFL star Travis Kelce last week, the label was inundated with calls from media from around the country and the world wanting interviews, plus customers desperate to get their hands on the $159 Myra mini dress, which sold out within hours.

VRG GRL’s Myra dress worn by Tayor Swift

VRG GRL owners Natalia Suesskow and Daniella Dionyssiou have been fielding a sea of inquiries about their now famous dress, but are sworn to secrecy on how it ended up on the chart-topping touring and singing sensation.

“We can’t say anything, sorry,” they said when contacted by Sunday Scoop.

However, a quick look at the brand’s website shows the Myra dress, which should perhaps be renamed “Taylor” is now being restocked and is available for pre-order for a mid-August arrival, meaning you too could look like the musician for under $160.

FIRST COUPLE LOSE SOME GREEN

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate and wife Ruth have copped a $100,000 loss on the sale of their mountaintop eco-lodge after three years on the market.

The two-bedroom apartment in the Lamington National Park was probably the most modest holding in the extensive property portfolio of the Glitter Strip power couple, who have banked about $20m from their trade in luxury riverfront homes over the past few years.

The Tates were rumoured to have used Barter card dollars towards their $770,000 purchase of one of 24 retreats making up the Binna Burra Mountain Lodge in 2015.

But with lodge owners bound by an agreement stating they can use their apartment for about 56 days of the year, with it given over to a rental pool for the remainder, the couple weren’t able to get away for cosy weekends as much as they would have liked and instead put it up for sale.

Tom Tate and Ruth Tate.

Still, it earned them a tidy annual rental income of $60,000.

The holiday pad with stunning views over the Numinbah Valley passed in at auction in September 2021 and has languished on the market until recently, when a Brisbane buyer was secured.

First National Surfers Paradise agent Russell Rollington handled the deal.

It was by no means an easy sell, with owners liable to pay skyrocketing insurance premiums alongside annual council rates and body corporate fees totalling close to $10,000.

The Tates’ unit was among a lucky few to escape destruction in a bushfire which ravaged the area in 2019, razing the adjoining lodge, a block of cabins and some of the newer apartments.

The lodge closed for a year while it was rebuilt.

LEGALLY BLONDE

She’s the real life Elle Woods adding a pop of pink to Brisbane courtrooms.

Businesswoman Nikolina Tully’s firm, Tully Law, is the country’s “first all-pink law firm” inspired by the iconic 2000s flick Legally Blonde.

The interiors are pink, staff wear pink, and even clients come into the shop wearing – you guessed it – pink.

Actor Reese Witherspoon in scene from film “Legally Blonde”.

The quirky business – which includes an all-pink coffee shop called Legally Pink – has gained an online following, and plenty of clients as a result.

But behind the fuchsia blazer and pastel pink kitten heels, Ms Tully is breaking the mould of what a traditional lawyer should look like, and kicking serious business goals along the way.

You can’t argue – whether you’re a fan of pink or not – that Ms Tully has created a brand that’s definitely turning heads.

LAW SOCIETY

The march of the robots continues with the Queensland Law Society issuing guidance on responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), making it the first law society in Australia to do so.

The guidance statement contains a list of ethical obligations solicitors should consider when appropriately using AI in legal practice.

Queensland Law Society President Rebecca Fogerty said it was crucial that solicitors have a guidance framework in order to navigate the complex issues proposed by AI use.

“Despite common fears around the increasing use of AI, the technology, when used correctly, has the potential to provide numerous benefits to legal practice, including improving efficiency and making legal services more accessible,” she said.

Queensland Law Society's Rebecca Fogerty.

“However, adopting and maintaining AI tools in legal practice requires extensive due diligence and ongoing supervision. We must ensure there are safeguards in place for the protection of clients, solicitors, and the legal profession as a whole.”

Problems that can emerge when using AI chatbots such as Chat GPT include the technology failing to distinguish between facts and opinion, relying on out of date data and simply making things up.

Queensland Courts issued its own guidance on the use of AI last month.

LIFEGUARD

Gold Coast lifeguard Michael Chan is heading overseas for the Olympics – but he’s not competing or even going to Paris.

Chan has been chosen to perform jet ski water safety patrol duties for the Olympic surfing event, being held at infamous big-wavebreak Teahupoo in Tahiti.

The veteran lifeguard is a multiple Australian champion lifesaver and renowned “waterman” who regularly does water safety patrol for World Surf League events.

After Tahiti, he heads to Fiji for the WSL world championship event at Cloudbreak.

Australia’s Olympic surfing team comprises Queenslander Ethan Ewing along with current world No. 2 Jack Robinson, former world champ Tyler Wright and world No. 4 Molly Picklum.