ABC boss David Anderson gets six-figure salary increase despite employee expenses blowing out by $32 million

David Anderson received the salary jump despite the taxpayer-funded broadcaster failing to meet many of its key targets.

ABC chair Ita Buttrose with Indigenous lawyer Noel Pearson in a photo that featured in the ABC's 2022-23 annual report.

ABC managing director David Anderson received a $120,000 boost to his salary in the past ­financial year, despite the public broadcaster being plagued by a string of missteps and a $32m blowout in staff salaries.

The ABC’s 2022-23 annual report published on Friday afternoon highlighted that the broadcaster failed to meet key targets and revealed Mr Anderson’s total remuneration package rose to $1.156m, up from $1.036m – a 12 per cent increase from the 2021-22 financial year.

The annual report also­ ­revealed the ABC had fallen well short of its audience targets, drawing 13 million weekly active digital users and well below its target of 18.3 million weekly users.

It was also well down on the 2021-22 financial year when the ABC had 17 million average weekly users.

The ABC news website, ABC news app and ABC current ­affairs websites had 8.7 million weekly users in 2022-23 – down 30 per cent from the previous ­financial year.

The taxpayer-funded broadcaster has come under intense criticism in the past year for editorial failings including its controversial King Charles coronation coverage, claims of “white supremacy” at an Alice Springs town meeting and accusations of racism within the broadcaster.

From left to right: ABC managing director David Anderson’s salary was $1.156m last financial year while director of news Justin Stevens received $533,817 and chairwoman Ita Buttrose collected $211,297.

The resignation of high-profile Indigenous presenter Stan Grant after he complained that he received a lack of support by his employer following the coronation coverage also resulted in staff walking off the job.Legal expenses have also been racked up by the ABC including for a hefty lawsuit involving special forces soldier Heston Russell, and it has undergone a significant overhaul of its trouble-plagued radio arm that has suffered falling ratings.

Justin Stevens, who was appointed the ABC’s director of news in March last year, received a total annual salary package of $533,817, while ABC chair Ita Buttrose was paid $211,297, slightly up from $205,631 in the previous 12 months.

An ABC spokesman said on Friday that Mr Anderson’s salary was set by the remuneration tribunal and “year-on-year movements in salary are due to annual leave and long service leave accumulation”.

The 284-page report says the ABC’s employee benefit expenses were $32m higher than budgeted for and totalled $585.3m, with the blowout blamed on “salary increases applicable under the ABC Enterprise Agreement during the period”.

In April, ABC employees were awarded an 11 per cent pay rise and $1500 bonus after a new pay deal was struck following months of negotiation with ABC management, human resources staff and union officials.

The taxpayer-funded organisation’s employee number remained relatively stable at 4523 employees (ongoing and non-ongoing employees) up until June 30, compared to 4563 in the prior financial year. Of all ABC staff, 50.6 per cent are NSW based.

The ABC has also established a Referendum Coverage Review Committee which monitored all coverage of the voice and will produce a report that will be presented to the ABC board.

The annual report also says there were several pieces of revised editorial guidance given to staff, including how to cover the voice referendum and tips on ways to deal with “racist commentary, and drawing the line between analysis and personal opinion”.

Staff were also given a revised guide to LGBTQIA+ reporting and how to portray sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in content.ABC management including Mr Anderson will be questioned at senate estimates on Tuesday. It also revealed the ABC had fallen well short of its digital targets, drawing 13 million weekly active digital users which was well below its target of 18.3 million weekly users.

“Released in advance of Sydney WorldPride, it set out key editorial considerations (such as when it may be relevant to mention a person’s gender or sexuality) and a practical glossary of appropriate language and terminology,” the annual report says.

However, the report also outlines that “independent editorial coverage reviews were not prioritised in 2022-23” and these are expected to return within the next 12 months.

The report also states that editorial standards remained a “critical component of learning and development offering”, and the areas of focus included “in relation to domestic and family violence, impartiality, fact checking and social media”.

The federal government will provide about $7.8bn over five years to the national broadcasters, including $6bn for the ABC and $1.8bn for SBS, and funding will be determined in five-year blocks.

The ABC has also failed to meet its Indigenous employee targets set out in the ABC Corporate Plan 2022-23, which set a 3.6 per cent target but reached 3.2 per cent.

The report says this was due to there being a “competitive market for Indigenous talent in the media” and the “wider benefits to the media industry of Indigenous employees leaving the ABC to advance their careers”.

The ABC’s culturally diverse executive target of 15 per cent was also not met, instead reaching 11.6 per cent.

“To counteract this, the ABC is focusing on retention through a tailored mentoring program for staff from culturally diverse programs,” the report says.