ABC boss David Anderson to be questioned by Senate over spending, including on the voice

David Anderson faces intense questioning during Senate estimates hearings on Tuesday over a range of controversies, including spending on the voice referendum.

ABC managing director David Anderson. Picture: Gary Ramage

ABC managing director David Anderson will be grilled at Tuesday’s Senate estimates hearing about costs to cover the voice referendum and Garma Festival in remote northeast Arnhem Land, staff salaries and legal and advertising expenditure.

In a letter to Mr Anderson from Liberal senator Hollie Hughes last week and seen by The Australian, he was given advance notice to ensure he is prepared with the relevant answers.

“We will be seeking answers relating to the ABC’s attendance and coverage of the Garma Festival, held in the Northern Territory in August,” Senator Hughes wrote. “Specifically, senators will be asking questions relating to the number of journalists, production and other staff who attended.

“The ABC will be expected to provide details regarding costs of the coverage, including a breakdown on expenditure on travel, accommodation and other expenses.”

The 2022-23 ABC annual report, published on Friday, said ABC news teams played a key role in covering many significant events including “the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory, Sydney World Pride and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras”.

Senator Hughes also requested Mr Anderson provide breakdowns of expenses covering the voice proposal.

“Please also come prepared to provide details on expenditure more generally around the ABC’s coverage on the voice referendum,” she said.

“Senators can be expected to seek answers on behalf of the public on how and where the ABC expended funds over the last 12 months on this issue.”

An employee walks past the logo of the ABC located at the main entrance to the ABC building located at Ultimo in Sydney.

At previous estimates hearings, when ABC executives including Mr Anderson and news director Justin Stevens have been unable to provide answers, questions on notice have been taken but it can sometimes take up to four months for responses to be made public.

Mr Anderson was this year reappointed managing director for another five-year term, which takes his tenure to June 30, 2028.

The letter also requested he provide detailed information about which staff are paid more than $220,000 per year after it was revealed 133 ABC employees received salaries higher than that in the 2022-23 financial year. The ABC’s 2022-23 annual report showed wages were $32m higher than budgeted for and totalled $583.3m in the last financial year, which the public broadcaster said was partly due to the 11 per cent pay rise over three years and a $1500 bonus staff received after months of negotiation with management, human resources staff and union officials.

The report also said the ABC paid $22.1m in redundancy payments, more than five times the $4.3m paid out in the previous financial year.

It is also likely during estimates that Mr Anderson will be questioned about how much the public broadcaster spends on legal costs, after the ABC lost a defamation trial brought by former commando Heston Russell. He was awarded $390,000 in damages.

In a recent question on notice the ABC revealed it spent $2.89m on external lawyers in the 2020-21 financial year and $2.99m in the 2021-22 financial year.

Another key issue likely to be discussed will be the ABC’s involvement with climate activist group Disrupt Burrup Hub.

A Four Corners camera crew was present in August when activists were involved in a controversial protest outside Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O’Neill’s Perth home in the early hours of the morning.

The investigative program was largely condemned for its actions, which triggered an internal review that indicated the ABC had lied about its involvement with the activists, which was shown in the Four Corners episode led by reporter Hagar Cohen.

In her letter, Senator Hughes also requested the ABC provide expenditure on advertising, promotions and market research.”

“We will also seek a specific breakdown on the advertising spend, including on television, radio, on the various social media platforms and on billboards,” she said.

The Australian reported in August that in the 2022-23 financial year the ABC spent $8.29m ­on advertising, plus $7.09m on audience research and $687,000 on promotions, totalling $16.07m. This increased from $12m spent in the 2019-20 financial year, when the figures were last made public.

SBS and media regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority will also face questioning at estimates. The ABC was contacted for comment.