Lisa Wilkinson speaks about defection from Nine to Ten

Lisa Wilkinson has spoken out publicly for the first time about her shock defection from Nine to Ten.

Lisa Wilkinson: “I worked out what my value was, and I decided to take a stand on that.” Picture: Tony Gough

Former Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson has spoken out publicly for the first time about her shock defection from Nine to Ten, saying she called out the “gender pay gap” because she “didn’t want to live a lie anymore”.

In comments made at a business breakfast in Melbourne yesterday, Wilkinson said it was “tough” standing up for herself in contract negotiations with Nine, which broke down after the network would not meet her demands for pay parity with co-host Karl Stefanovic.

“When you feel that there’s a pattern being repeated that’s when you have to take a stand,” she told the audience.

“You draw a line in the sand, you work out this far and no further, and I got to that line in the sand and said ‘this far and no further’. And it was a really simple decision in the end.”

Wilkinson, who has not publicly revealed her salary with Ten, left Nine after six months of contract negotiations broke down in October. She was hired to front The Project on Sunday nights, among other yet-to-be-announced duties.

The seasoned television presenter and journalist had sought a package of about $2.3 million, including endorsements, while Nine was only willing to offer $1.8 million, The Australian understands.

“I had to be true to myself and if it did reignite the conversation, I’m thrilled because I just didn’t want to live a lie anymore,” Wilkinson said.

“I’ve spoken out on the gender pay gap publicly prior to this and I just decided this far and no further ... As women we find it hard to work out what our value is, and perhaps my greatest crime is that I worked out what my value was, and I decided to take a stand on that and I feel really pleased that I did.

“It was tough. As women we have a tendency to be grateful for everything that comes our way, which is fine, but we’ve got to move beyond that.”

Nine has disputed the characterisation of Wilkinson’s wage clash with the network as a “gender pay gap”, pointing out that Stefanovic performed extra duties in news and current affairs, and remained unencumbered by conflicting engagements.

Nine was displeased with Wilkinson’s role as editor-at-large of Huffpost Australia, which ended last week when the online publisher’s joint venture with Fairfax media was terminated.

Wilkinson also paid tribute to the #MeToo movement and warned that the “boys’ club” of powerful men in politics, business and entertainment was coming to an end.