Tony Armstrong’s dulcet tones are getting him into a spot of bother
The popular ABC presenter has been busy moonlighting on the side in a list of paid gigs, raising questions about whether he has breached the broadcaster’s external work guidelines.
Star ABC presenter Tony Armstrong’s dulcet tones are certainly getting him into a spot of bother.
The Indigenous sports presenter – who said his goodbyes on the taxpayer-funded broadcaster’s News Breakfast show on Friday – was recently caught red-handed moonlighting in ad campaigns for NRMA Insurance, which he failed to tell his bosses about.
But it seems that wasn’t his only side hustle.
Armstrong last week revealed in an article published in The Australian that he “got a little bit sick just from overwork” and needs to slow down.
Is it any wonder? He’s been clocking up the hours doing work outside his ABC gigs.
Spies told Diary the former AFL player – who played a total of 35 games for the Adelaide Crows, Sydney Swans and Collingwood – has been busy for quite some time doing voiceovers to help with Fox Footy’s AFL coverage.
Armstrong reads the weekly match line-ups for the popular footy channel.
Not a bad little paid gig on the side that’s been going on for some years, Diary has been told.
Perhaps this was one ABC Media Watch host Janine Perrett didn’t know about when she revealed that Armstrong had been helping sell insurance in TV and radio ads.
When Diary asked the ABC comms department about Armstrong’s Fox Footy side hustle, the mystery deepened – it appeared Armstrong may have told the ABC some years back about it, only problem was the public broadcaster wasn’t 100 per cent sure and went on a mad scramble to find the paperwork.
Maybe it was a “dog ate my homework”-type scenario – the comms team said it would get back to Diary on the matter on Friday but we didn’t hear back.
Fox Footy is owned by Foxtel, majority controlled by News Corp Australia (publisher of The Australian).
Under the ABC’s external works guidance it states that high-profile talent – which would be fair to say includes Armstrong – are in a “high-risk” situation if they’re going to take work on the side while working at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.
The ABC has strict rules around any extra paid gigs and its guidelines state staff have to discuss any deals with their boss and get the green light before going ahead.
For the eagle-eyed viewers wondering why they haven’t cottoned on to Armstrong’s footy side gig it’s because similar to the NRMA ads he was partaking in, you won’t see Tony and there’s no reference to the fact it’s his voice coming out of the TV.
When Diary contacted Armstrong to get to the bottom of the matter he might have been busy warming up his vocal cords because he didn’t respond.
He certainly didn’t waste his opportunity on Friday during his final appearance on News Breakfast alongside Michael Rowland and Stephanie Ferrier to have a crack at Media Watch.
He was farewelled with a cake topped with the word “Tone” and handed a special jar of coffee by Rowland with a gold bow on top.
Armstrong seized the opportunity to make a joke of doing another product plug.
“We won’t name the brand,” he laughed.
“Actually I don’t care, I’ve already been done by Media Watch. Nescafe,” he joked.
Last week ABC news boss Justin Stevens came out in defence of Armstrong after he was targeted on social media and in the comment sections of websites following Media Watch’s reporting and the release of the broadcaster’s racism review.
“Tony Armstrong is one of the ABC’s best and most talented presenters,” Stevens said.
“This week he has again been targeted on social media and in public comments on news websites in a despicable way.
“The ABC stands by Tony and will not tolerate any racist abuse.”
Sorry Saturday Paper
The Saturday Paper’s senior reporter, Rick Morton, penned an article last week that has resulted in the left-leaning publication writing a correction that’s almost as long as a story itself. And the explanation by the Schwartz Media publication didn’t just result in one apology – but two – with a rambling explanation about a series of errors in several stories written by Morton.
The embarrassing stuff-up comes just weeks after Morton went nuclear on his employer via no better place than social media after the paper published a comment piece by the paper’s columnist Chris Wallace – also a professor at the University of Canberra – that left the scribe seething.
Morton was so peeved he told his followers on X: “The newspaper for which I work has published a comment piece by Chris Wallace defending her friend of 40 years, former DHS (Department of Human Services) Secretary Renée Leon.
“I consider the piece to be garbage revisionism, unethical and a betrayal of actual reporting, and told the editors as much.”
The newspaper for which I work has published a comment piece by Chris Wallace defending her friend of 40 years, former DHS Secretary Renee Leon. I consider the piece to be garbage revisionism, unethical and a betrayal of actual reporting and told the editors as much.
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) September 20, 2024
The swipe at the green-left publication has drawn more than 250,000 views but it won’t divulge if Morton got into any strife over the inflammatory posts.
But despite Morton publicly scolding his employer for all to see, on the weekend the paper published a shopping list of errors in several stories penned by him on Robodebt.
The issues were with a couple of stories that warranted multiple apologies and included Morton having a crack at Leon, reporting that advice given to her back in 2019 said income averaging had “no legal basis”.
The Saturday Paper said this was wrong and “the advice said it had ‘no statutory basis’ ”.
“The piece should have also noted Ms Leon ceased the scheme on November 18, immediately after being advised that the commonwealth’s legal position was now settled.”
But the errors didn’t end there.
There were also problems in another piece written by Morton back in a 2023 story when he said Leon received advice in March 2019 – this was not the case.
The Saturday Paper on the weekend said elements of Morton’s reporting were “incorrect and wrongly gave the impression Leon knew Robodebt was unlawful at a much earlier stage”.
“The Saturday Paper sincerely apologies to Ms Leon for these errors and for the implication of improper conduct these errors conveyed, which were not reflected in the findings of the royal commission,” the apology read.
But in true Morton style he had to have the last say and didn’t hold back, posting on X on Saturday night: “Renée Leon doesn’t like these findings of the royal commission that she misled.”
He didn’t stop there, accusing her of having “no self-reflection”.
Seems as good a day as any to leave these facts on here for public viewing. Renee Leon doesn't like these findings of the Royal Commission that she misled the Commonwealth Ombudsman and took way too long -- "excessive" -- in seeking final legal advice. https://t.co/0FJJs0Uherpic.twitter.com/dhl3AXQapj
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) October 5, 2024
Diary contacted The Saturday Paper’s editor, Erik Jensen, to find out if Morton was in any strife over not just his social media posts but also the errors in his stories.
Appears not. Jensen told Diary Morton is a “brilliant reporter” who had won Walkley awards and has been “fearless, thoughtful and comprehensive”.
Teal’s swipe at AFR
Former ABC journalist turned teal MP Zoe Daniel sent out a stern message to the media and particularly men at Nine’s Australian Financial Review telling them they need to pull up their socks and do better.
“I would also encourage the media, particularly the male reporters at the AFR, to update their attitudes to women in leadership,” she said in a pretty irate media release titled “inaccurate media reports”.
The scrum happened after a story landed in the AFR a week ago revealing that teal independent, Wentworth MP Allegra Spender, “walked into the paper’s Canberra bureau seeking a favour”.
The story said she asked that climate warrior and billionaire Simon Holmes à Court, the founder of Climate 200 who helped bankroll the teals at the last election, not be named in the AFR Magazine’s Power List.
The AFR article, penned by the AFR’s political editor, Phil Coorey, on September 27, said: “Polite as ever, she (Spender) requested Holmes à Court be removed from the covert list because he did not want to be on it.
“Her submission came as no surprise.
“A staffer for fellow teal independent Zoe Daniel had already rung with the same request, as had a spokeswoman for Climate 200.
“In all cases, the answer was the same: no.”
The article also said: “Through his third-party entreaties, Holmes à Court only served to demonstrate that he wields a lot more influence than who he purports to be – a humble fundraiser who operates at arm’s length from those he supports.”
After the story published, days later over at Kerry Stokes’s publication, The Nightly, former AFR scribe Aaron Patrick reported for the online publication that Goldstein MP Daniel had been referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission by NSW Liberal Party president Jason Falinski.
The former Liberal MP was hot under the collar and fired off a letter to commissioner Paul Brereton after the AFR story published and said: “If this reporting is accurate, then there has been a misuse of taxpayer-funded resources, specifically involving Ms Daniel’s staff, who are alleged to have been engaged in lobbying efforts on behalf of her donors.”
When Diary contacted AFR editor-in-chief James Chessell to find out more details about that spat involving Holmes à Court and the teals and the Nine publication, he swiftly rejected claims of sexism by his paper.
“It’s our job to examine the power of money on our political system,” he told Diary.
“People are obviously entitled to their opinions but I don’t think it’s sexist to question the influence a well-funded, politically active donor might have over MPs that benefit from those donations.
“Indeed, the independent MPs themselves think it’s an important issue because they are very focused on political spending reforms.”
When Diary contacted Daniel’s office about the matter on Sunday, we were politely told: “We won’t be saying anything further beyond what’s in Friday’s statement.”
Miles brain fade
Queensland Premier Steven Miles had one of those horror moments – the one when you wish the camera would just stop rolling.
And so too does the Labor candidate for the regional Queensland seat of Mirani – Miles didn’t have a clue what her name was when he was quizzed by the waiting press pack while visiting the beef capital of Australia, Rockhampton.
Susan Teder – who is running for Labor – told Diary the situation was far from ideal when the Premier had an on-air brain fade.
Diary asked the social worker if it was preferred Miles did know her name, to which she said, “Maybe” before letting out a quick giggle. “He’d only met me a few times,” she explained quite defensively. “I don’t think I can make a comment, I’m just waiting on feedback.”
As to what feedback Teder is waiting on, who knows, but perhaps Miles’s spinners could start by slipping him a Post-it note with the name of each candidate representing Labor when his visits different electorates and fronts up to a waiting press pack.
It was The Australian’s Lydia Lynch who caught a very unprepared Miles out, posing the simple question: “You don’t know the name of the candidate that’s running for your team in the seat that you’re in today?”
Thank heavens for Deputy Premier Cameron Dick, who came to Miles’s rescue, blurting out the name “Susan”.
But back to Teder.
Asked if his embarrassing stuff-up would be detrimental to her stab at the central Queensland seat on October 26 held by Katter’s Australia Party’s Stephen Andrew, Teder was choosing not to go there.
“I don’t think so, Steven Miles has got a lot going on and he’s been running around,” she said.
Freebie Felgate strikes
Back to the topic of paid side hustles, someone who knows all too well how to snare an endless stream of commercial deals is none other than radio freebie queen, 3AW broadcaster Jacqui Felgate.
For those who missed it, Friday was World Smile Day and Felgate was busy traipsing up and down Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall plugging one of her 10 paid deals – this time with teeth-whitening firm Smile Solutions.
Felgate was spruiking the brand while handing out Smile Solutions’ goodie bags to random shoppers, but only if they smiled.
She beamed to her Instagram followers: “Sometimes all it takes is a smile to turn a day around and a little act of kindness can make a big difference, so we’re giving away $1000 in gift vouchers thanks to Smile Solutions so come join me and spread the smiles.”
Felgate went on a vox-popping spree, asking one punter what makes her smile, to which the happy spender said: “Friends, sunshine, Melbourne’s summer, love it.”
Felgate chimed in, “I love it too, let me give you a Smile Solutions voucher, thank you.”
While the radio host put an online call out to 354,000 Instagram followers encouraging them to post on her paid ad and reveal what makes them smile, she got just a measly 33 comments. Surely in a cost-of-living crisis more punters would be desperate for a freebie but, no, it wasn’t the case.
Felgate also uploaded Instagram stories of herself lying horizontal in a dentist’s chair getting work done to her teeth and telling her followers: “I’ve been going to @smilesolutions for quite some time now, they really do provide the best care, I couldn’t recommend them more!”
Well, of course she recommends them, she’s getting paid to.
Felgate spruiked a handful of special offers, including $1500 off some dental work and 15 per cent discounts on cosmetic treatments to fix up any dodgy teeth.
The drive host has 10 paid deals on the side including with BMW, Chemist Warehouse, Zenn Design and Villawood Management but at least she’s declaring them now – she got into hot water last year when she and 3AW didn’t disclose that she had up to 15 paid deals. This was a breach of the media regulator’s guidelines and Felgate dismissed it as merely an “oversight.”
But Felgate’s not the only Nine Radio host with a growing list of deals on the side, fill-in 2GB presenter and tech guru Trevor Long has 15, including with Motorola, Samsung Australia, Belkin and Fetch TV.
Nick Tabakoff is on leave
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