Annette Sharp: Door shuts for high flyer AFR columnist Joe Aston

The resignation of high profile Sydney columnist Joe Aston and his quick exit has raised questions around his departure with some of the view he has self-sabotaged and blown himself up with a column too vicious for bosses to ignore, writes Annette Sharp.

A quick high profile departure seldom goes unnoticed in the Sydney media and so it was on Friday when Nine Media announced the departure of controversial AFR columnist Joe Aston.

Aston’s biggest fan – and staunchest defender – AFR editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury was generous in his praise of his protected fosterling, announcing the business reporter was leaving to take “a break” after 12 astoundingly well-paid years at that title.

Aston finishes up next Friday, a timeline that is very quick by media standards.

Normally a valued reporter would be required to serve several weeks’ notice while a replacement for their position is found.

This quickie departure has raised questions, as too has his erratic column appearances in recent months.

In wishing Aston well, Stutchbury acknowledged Aston’s coverage of the long-running Qantas saga and attacks on former CEO Alan Joyce.

Might it be, however, that the longstanding attention given by Aston to Qantas, his former employer, to whom he has long been excessively attentive, may have played some role in his departure from Nine?

Journalist Joe Aston leaving Federal court in the defamation trial against Elaine Stead. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Aston’s resignation news came a day after he put his name to a column addressing a “dirty little secret” said to taken root within the investment industry – that being the mirrored investments of fund managers who acquire personal shares in companies in which they also invest professionally for clients.

The column took aim at Qantas’s largest shareholder, global investment manager Pendal and stated it “can’t be honest with its own clients…”. Pendal, owned by Perpetual, also happens to be the second largest shareholder of Nine, publisher of the AFR, Aston’s now former employer.

It holds a 9.9 per cent share in Nine, second only to media magnate Bruce Gordon’s Birketu which holds just under 15 per cent.

On Friday speculation was rife that the column impacted on Aston.

What is plain is that Aston, who for the longest time appears to have fashioned himself after American writer Hunter S. Thompson, ravaged by booze and drugs after having consumed, in his own words, “ … twenty to 35 standard drinks every day for 15 years – supplemented prodigiously by illicit psychostimulants…”, won’t be missed by many of his colleagues.

Conversely he is expected to be missed by Nine’s youthful publishing division managing director, James Chessell, Aston’s one-time travelling companion and close chum – the Dan Aykroyd to Aston’s John Belushi.

Many of Aston’s colleagues appear to have taken a dim view of the journalist since 2016 when he broke ranks during strike action and turned up for work.

Annette Sharp. Joe Aston signs off as seen in social media post

It came after his employer, then called Fairfax, laid off 120 journos, the vast majority of whom were on much lower wages than Aston who was subsequently branded a “scab” after taking to social media and calling the strike unlawful.

Many were of the view that he has finally self-sabotaged and blown himself up with a column too vicious and problematic for bosses to ignore.

Others are of the view the bean counters at Nine have merely cast an eye over the books and decided the time has come for the company to cut costs again and when push came to shove, Aston leapt.

Aston’s salary has always been a much talked about – and reported – subject within the industry.

It is claimed he has been on a $500k annual salary at Nine, with an unlimited expense account, which if true would make him one of the most expensive reporters on Nine’s publishing books.

The question now is what he will do next?

The Prada loving, Domaine OTT quaffing writer, who tied the knot last October (yes, to a woman, a surprise to some), has, since then been on the hunt for a home in aspirational Potts Point, his former rental stomping ground.

No word whether he has yet found a property though possibly the search has become more urgent following news he will soon become a father.

Aston, 40, has been telling people a son is on the way. A home in Sydney’s east in Paul Keating’s neighbourhood doesn’t come cheap. Aston will need an employer, or client, with deep pockets to make it a reality.

Some believe he will hang out a shingle and return to the world of the corporate spin doctor, working for one of his bestie billionaires. Possibly a Pratt, a Forrest or Hemmes.

James Packer, now without corporate comms veteran Mark Arbib, remains a longtime admirer. A Packer insider put a pin in the theory Aston was off to fill Arbib’s shoes or those of his longtime Crown Casino PR wrangler Annie Peacock.

Professional mud slinger Aston could not be reached for comment.