Ray Hadley ‘not happy’, slams paid deals saga involving 3AW host Jacqui Felgate

Nine Radio’s top-rating host Ray Hadley has intervened in the sponsorships saga that has embroiled 3AW and said it is damaging for all broadcasters at the network.

2GB host Ray Hadley and 3AW host Jacqui Felgate.

Nine Radio’s biggest star Ray Hadley has declared he is distressed and unhappy about a growing sponsorship saga enveloping the network, and he has warned management that Melbourne host Jacqui Felgate’s 15 lucrative paid partnerships are harming other Nine hosts.

Hadley, who is Sydney’s 2GB top-rating mornings compere, said he had been left stunned by revelations in The Australian that 3AW has not declared lucrative partnerships his colleague Felgate – the new host of 3AW Melbourne’s drive program – has with the likes of BMW, Chemist Warehouse, NAB AFL Auskick, Melbourne Racing Club and Maybelline.

All of Nine Radio’s stations – 3AW, 2GB, 4BC and 6PR – are now under investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority over failure to keep their disclosure records up to date.

Hadley, in an exclusive interview with The Australian, said he is angry about the damage Felgate’s undisclosed deals are causing to the network, comparing the damage done to 2UE during the cash-for-comment scandal in 1999 when talkback hosts John Laws and Alan Jones had been paid to give positive commentary on air about many companies without disclosing the deals to listeners.

“I said (to management) I wasn’t happy about it (Felgate’s deals) and I got the feeling they’re as distressed as I am about it,” Hadley said.

“I don’t think it’s good for any of our reputations, I certainly don’t think it’s good for any of us particularly as management have put in place these compliance training meetings at the request of ACMA which we hopefully all adhere to.

“I can only assume she (Felgate) went to the meetings wearing ear muffs.”

Nine Radio is run by managing director Tom Malone and Felgate has been a fill-in host at the station since June 2022.

3AW broadcaster Jacqui Felgate’s 15 paid partnerships were not declared by the station.

Nine initially said the lack of disclosure of Felgate’s 15 deals was an “innocent oversight” but since then the list of her partnerships has been amended many times on 3AW’s website and her management, TLA Worldwide, has not responded to any questions on the matter.

Hadley said he “whinged to management” every time he has to do compliance training.

“I’m suffering because of what (Alan) Jones did,” he said in reference to the cash for comment scandal.

Under ACMA’s disclosure standard, presenters who are on air for more than three hours per week over a four-week period must ensure the licensee (Nine) complies with the online disclosure register which is published on the station’s website.

Deals including those worth $25,000 or more a year must be disclosed and presenters must provide licensees with the details of a commercial agreement within seven days of entering into a paid partnership.

ACMA has asked Nine Radio for more information regarding paid deals amid the Felgate saga which has resulted in other hosts declaring deals.

“The ACMA is seeking further information from Nine Radio regarding the maintenance of their online disclosure registers and will assess the matter once we receive all relevant information,” an ACMA spokesman said.

If the standard is not adhered to it can result in court action and financial penalties.

3AW radio host Jacqui Felgate is a BMW Berwick ambassador. Picture: Facebook

Hadley said it was incomprehensible that the failure to disclose Felgate’s deals was described as an “innocent oversight” by Nine.

“I find it mystifying that people go to these meetings and don’t understand the clarity from the lawyers,” he said.

“I don’t understand how people can go off on a tangent, I don’t partake in Instagram and social media and all those other things that Jacqui does.”

Hadley said if he held 15 deals, as Felgate does, it would be difficult for him to do his job.

“Well there would be 15 things I couldn’t talk about very much wouldn’t there,” he said.

Felgate, who was previously doing food reviews and football commentary for 3AW, was appointed the Melbourne station’s new drive host for 2024.

This week she has been hosting 3AW’s afternoon program but has made no mention of the fallout from the paid partnerships saga.

A Nine Radio spokeswoman would not say if Felgate had done compliance training.

“As part of its systems, processes and procedures, Nine conducts training regularly with all relevant staff,” she said.

“It is not appropriate to go into greater detail while we are working with the ACMA on their information request.”

Felgate continues to spruik goods on her Instagram account which has 266,000 followers.

In a deal with Smile Solutions, customers are encouraged to ring up and use the code word ‘JACQUIFELGATE’ to receive a discounted teeth treatment.

Felgate also tags many businesses who provide her with freebies.