Nine boss says 60 Minutes Beirut review is fair and indepedent

A review into the 60 Minutes Lebanon kidnap drama Australia is a legitimate investigation, says Nine CEO Hugh Marks.

Nine CEO Hugh Marks has defended the appointments of Gerald Stone and David Hurley to head the 60 Minutes review. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

A review into the Lebanon kidnap drama led by the godfathers of chequebook journalism in ­Australia is a legitimate investigation, Nine chief executive Hugh Marks has said in his first interview since the arrest of the 60 ­Minutes TV crew in Beirut.

Critics have questioned the ­objectivity of Nine’s team led by 60 Minutes founder Gerald Stone and former A Current Affair boss David Hurley, as the pair interview key executives including producer Kirsty Thomson, her predecessor Tom Malone, and the Nine crew, who flew home on Thursday night.

“I don’t have any concerns about the independence of the people that have been appointed. As the head of the review, Gerald Stone is clearly an independent voice and David Hurley is one of the straightest-shooting no-­nonsense people I have ever met,” Marks told The Australian .

“Both deserve enormous respect and are eminently qualified to get to the bottom of what went on and why. Importantly, not only this particular event but also whether there are systemic issues that need to be addressed by us. The notion that this is not an independent review or that it’s part of some sort of cover up is absurd.”

Marks said he contemplated hiring external auditors to assess the series of events that led to Nine reporter Tara Brown and her 60 Minutes crew spending 14 nights behind bars after the team began covering Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner’s attempt to recover her children from their ­father Ali Elamine.

“The most important part of this review is to examine if and where we crossed the line in terms of the way in which we planned and conducted this story,” he said. “To me that requires people that have a detailed knowledge of ­current affairs reporting, the issues and the ethics that relate to that. I don’t think that is something we would have got from a forensic accounting firm.”

In defence of Stone’s prominent role, Nine insiders pointed out that he hasn’t worked for the network in decades and authored a critical book about the broadcaster, Who Killed Channel 9?

Asked whether there would be any sackings of executives, Marks said: “I won’t prejudge the review on this point but it comes down to: was it a serious of unfortunate events or something else that is more serious. Understanding the nature of what went on in this case will be relevant to what if any action we take after the review.”

Marks broke cover to say he is “sorry” for the Lebanon kidnap drama, and felt “angry” about “mistakes” made by the network. “I still don’t have all the details about what went on and why, and that’s a critical part of the review,” he said.

“Whether I should be angry and for what reason is still a question that needs to be resolved.”

Malcolm Turnbull said 60 Minutes was “most unwise”, and that the deal would “no doubt” be of interest to agencies such as the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.

But Marks said the network’s undisclosed financial settlement with Elamine to secure the crew’s freedom was legal. “I don’t know why it would attract any attention. It’s a settlement approved by a court in accordance with Lebanese law,” he said.

Amid allegations Nine had facilitated and funded a crime on foreign soil, Marks said: “I don’t think it is for me to comment other than to say that someone like Sally is driven by such desperation to do things to bring her children back.

“That’s the story we’re telling. It’s not really for us to go ‘Is it criminal, is not criminal?’ and to be judgmental. Our role is to shine a light on how she felt and what she was prepared to do to bring her children back.”

Asked if he had any regrets that the actions of the crew may have played a role in Sally losing custody of her children, Marks said the program will address this issue at a later date.

“I think that’s something that needs to be commented on in the story we eventually put to air,” he said. “And that will be largely for Sally to judge. But I’m sure as we get to know more about her story that will be something for her to comment on.”

While Marks hinted Nine must impose stricter rules to prevents disasters where the network made a direct payment into the account of child-recovery specialist Adam Whittington, he de­fended the practice of paying for stories.

“People sell their stories to all sorts of media whether it be film, television or a novel,” he said. “We just have to ensure we’ve got the right processes, approvals and risk management techniques in place to ensure we do the right thing in the right way, and create a great working environment for our people.”

It’s understood the review began last Friday, with Stone and Hurley interviewing news boss Darren Wick.