Ben Butler, a “senior investigative journalist” at the ABC, allegedly told the Melbourne newsroom that a female colleague should be “killed and buried in a shallow grave”, The Australian reports.
Butler resigned from the ABC following the alleged incident in February.
The Australian reports that five sources with knowledge of the incident, say that ABC staff heard Butler having a heated phone conversation with an interstate colleague. Immediately after the call, Butler is alleged to have loudly stated: “She (his colleague) should be killed and buried in a shallow grave.”
Staff who overheard the statement complained to management and Butler was suspended while an investigation was conducted.
The woman whom Butler was referring to was told of the alleged comments, and was traumatised by them, The Australian has been told.
Butler didn’t respond to questions from the masthead on Sunday, but a week ago, in response to The Australian’s initial queries about his alleged remarks, he said this masthead’s inquiries “appear to reflect a distorted version of an overheard private conversation. I resigned from the ABC following a series of short-term contracts.”
Indeed, The Australian reports that Butler resigned from the ABC before the investigation into his comments concluded.
On April 20, Butler was appointed chair of the Walkley Awards judging board. He was a recipient of the Gold Walkley Award in November 2025.
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Current Walkley board member and federal president (media) of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Michael Slezak, “played a pivotal role” in the appointment.
Last week, Slezak called Butler “one of Australia’s most decorated and respected journalists, and his appointment by the (Walkley) Foundation board reflects that standing. The Foundation has full confidence in him in this role.”
Slezak wouldn’t answer questions from The Australian about whether he knew of the allegations about the Melbourne newsroom incident.
CEO of the Walkley Foundation, Shona Martyn, also declined to comment on Butler as she didn’t respond on Sunday “when asked if she agreed with Slezak’s statement with regard to the Walkley Foundation having “full confidence” in Butler.”
Ben Butler’s background
Butler joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in August 2024 after a redundancy from News Corp Australia, where he was the national investigations editor.
At the ABC he contributed to high-profile investigations, such as co-authoring Four Corners report, Betrayal of Trust, which won the Gold Walkley Award in November 2025.
Top image: Walkley judging board chair Ben Butler last week. Picture: The Walkleys Foundation/The Australian