The ABC has moved to justify a $45,000 send-off for former managing director David Anderson, telling Senate Estimates the event recognised his three decades at the broadcaster.
The gathering, held in the Ultimo foyer, brought together past and present staff who had worked closely with Anderson.
Chief financial officer Melanie Kleyn told senators the spending largely reflected catering and travel support.
“We had a number of people invited to that event,” she said.
“I think the cost would have extended to catering for the evening. I think we would also have paid for some employees to travel to the event who had worked with Mr Anderson over the years.”
New managing director Hugh Marks said it was a “reasonably appropriate event for an executive that had been at the organisation for a long period of time and had made many contributions”.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has asked for a detailed cost breakdown.
Hugh Marks
Questions around a turbulent tenure
Anderson’s time at the helm included several high-profile challenges.
He was required to give evidence in fill-in radio host Antoinette Lattouf’s unlawful termination case, and his team weathered significant backlash over the ABC’s coronation broadcast in 2023, which drew close to 2000 complaints.
In early 2024, union members passed a no-confidence motion, alleging management had not adequately protected journalists from external attacks.
Announcing his resignation later that year, Anderson said the decision was “not an easy one” but reflected the need for “leadership renewal for the next stage of the ABC’s continued evolution”.
He earned more than $1.2 million annually in the role, which also included serving as editor-in-chief. Marks formally stepped in as his successor in March.