Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose open the public purse for luxury car hire, including trips to her favourite restaurant
Documents released under FOI show the former ABC chair used the broadcaster’s cash to pay for luxury trips to and from her home, and some of Sydney’s most exclusive clubs and restaurants.
Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose says questions about thousands of dollars spent on her luxury car hire trips are “irrelevant”, noting the broadcaster’s top dog was not held to the same standards as staff.
Documents released under Freedom of Information reveal Ms Buttrose spent at least $3625.79 on luxury car hire in the 12 months between January 2023 and January 2024.
Many of these trips were from Ms Buttrose’s home in Sydney’s inner-city of Redfern and the broadcaster’s headquarters in Ultimo or to dinners and lunches at some of the city’s more exclusive dining options.
As revealed under FOI, Ms Buttrose used Corporate Cars Australia to cart her around Sydney on at least 14 occasions over the 12 months.
Corporate Cars Australia spruiks itself as offering a “first-class experience with 24/7 chauffeur service”, with a fleet of executive and European sedans, limousines, and luxury vehicles.
However, the ABC warns its staff in its official Taxi and Ridesharing Procedure that the use of chauffeur driven cars should be “discouraged”, cautioning the broadcaster required all staff to carry out their travel “as efficiently as possible and in an accountable and transparent manner”.
ABC staff are warned the cost of their travel must be “necessary, controlled, and defensible under public scrutiny”.
Documents show Ms Buttrose’s trips included travel from her home as well as to high-profile dining venues and social clubs.
On one $337.10 trip on November 30, 2023, Ms Buttrose was taken to the Union Club at 25 Bent Street, Sydney’s oldest social club and only senior club that allows both male and female members.
Invoices show Ms Buttrose’s driver picked her up at 9pm after a 25-minute wait, dropping her off on Bligh Street, Sydney.
Another invoice, dated January 3, 2023, shows Ms Buttrose and former ABC managing director David Anderson travelled to the exclusive Italian restaurant Beppi’s for lunch.
Beppi’s is a well-known media haunt and was a favourite of the late Kerry Packer.
The former ABC chair even reviewed Beppi’s in 2016 for The Daily Telegraph, noting she frequented it “because I love the food but also for family occasions”.
Ms Buttrose also charged the ABC $312.26 on October 11, 2023 for luxury car hire, which took her from her home to the ABC, then later to Beppi’s in Darlinghurst before taking her home.
This included a $115.38 charge to travel the 10 minutes, or 2.4km, between Ms Buttrose’s home and ABC headquarters.
A similar trip on rideshare platform Uber could cost as little as $17, or $33.75 for a “Premier” vehicle.
ABC Staff are instructed not to use taxis to travel between home and work, unless otherwise agreed. ABC managers are also supposed to review staff spending on taxis and hire cars.
An ABC source noted how the broadcaster closely polices the use of cabcharges by staff.
These rules apply to all ABC staff, suppliers, contractors, subcontractors, work experience students, interns, and ABC volunteers.
However, Ms Buttrose told The Australian these rules did not apply to her, noting the chair of the ABC was “not considered staff”.
“Directors of the ABC are not employees,” she said. “So your questions are irrelevant.”
Ms Buttrose was paid $211,297 in 2023 as ABC chair.
Her use of luxury cars came to light in the ABC’s litigation with former interim radio host Antoinette Lattouf, with a bill for the former ABC chair’s travel threatening to blow up the broadcaster’s defence.
Mr Anderson had alleged he was present in a car with Ms Buttrose when the call came in noting Ms Lattouf had been sacked from the ABC. However, in Ms Buttrose’s initial telling of events Mr Anderson was not present.
Mr Anderson did not respond to questions from The Australian.
The ABC did not respond.
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