ABC stars flown to London for royal wedding
THE ABC’s Annabel Crabb has denied flying business class to London to cover the royal wedding, insisting she was stuck in row 52G “spooned against a very large stranger”.
NSW
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THE ABC’s Annabel Crabb has denied flying business class to London to cover the royal wedding, insisting she was stuck in row 52G “spooned against a very large stranger”.
While ABC travel guidelines allow for journalists to fly business class on long-haul flights, Crabb and Sydney-based offsider Jeremy Fernandez flew cattle class instead.
Yesterday an ABC spokesman said the pair had travelled within the broadcaster’s guidelines, which allow for business class unless the employee agrees otherwise.
An indignant Crabb said they “went straight into a full day’s work” and were “happy and honoured to be here”.
But Crabb’s heroic revelation appears to breach the ABC travel guidelines which state ABC staff are not required to “commence duty within 11 hours after arriving at their destination”.
Aunty’s highly paid Paul Barry and Barrie Cassidy both jumped in to defend Crabb and Fernandez.
Flying the two presenters to London created a stir within the ABC with staff reportedly angered Australian presenters had been flown to a city where a large bureau already existed.
It comes just days after ABC boss Michelle Guthrie announced plans to fight a budget freeze by Treasurer Scott Morrison.