ABC pays out $124m to top 20pc of staff

The ABC has revealed­ that its wage bill tops $437m, with the top 20 per cent of staff taking home more than $124m.

The public broadcaster has revealed­ that its wage bill tops $437 million, with the top 20 per cent of staff taking home more than $124m, although it has refused to disclose the names of its top-earning on-air presenters.

The ABC’s top 20 presenters take home pay packets of more than $225,000 a, with some getting up to $450,000.

The dis­closures­ are sure to fuel arguments to slash funding.

Responding to questions on notice from One Nation leader Pauline Hanson at budget estim­ates hearings this month, the ABC quietly released details of the salaries but not the names of its top 20 on-air presenters.

The broadcaster also confirmed the total remuneration paid to managing director Mich­elle Guthrie, including super­annuation, costs taxpayers $900,000 a year (with the salary component $880,384).

It said eight of the 10 executives who report to Ms Guthrie also earned “more than $400,000 in remuneration” when super and performance pay are included.

According to figures supplied by the ABC, its top 20 on-air presenters earn between $225,000 and $450,000 — a group certain to include the broadcaster’s biggest names including 7.30 host Leigh Sales and Q & A moderator Tony Jones.

In its answers to Senator Hanson, the ABC also confirmed five of its most well-known presenters earn a salary between $375,000 and $450,000 and another six earn $300,000 to $375,000. The other nine on the list earn between $225,000 and $300,000.

Asked by Senator Hanson why it could not disclose details, the ABC cited the Privacy Act.

The ABC also confirmed that as of July 1, the base pay, excluding super and other entitlements, for all ongoing staff clocked in at $437.3m, with the top 20 per cent of staff taking $124.3m.