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What’s Kerry worth?

At an estimates committee today in Canberra a Liberal Senator got all hot and bothered over how much the ABC pays Kerry O'Brien.

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kerry-obrienHow much does the ABC pay The 7.30 Report‘s Kerry O’Brien?

That’s what a Liberal Senator wants to know at an estimates committee today in Canberra.

ABC managing director Mark Scott has told a Senate hearing the information is commercial-in-confidence.

“I can assure you our on-air talent, by and large across the board, … is paid less, significantly less, than their counterparts in private sector,” he said.

But Senator Ian Macdonald pointed out ABC presenters were happy to comment on the salaries paid to politicians.

No word if he discerned that politicians were voted in and acted on behalf of their constituents. The ABC, however, hires privately and competes in a forum against private enterprise.

He rejected Mr Scott’s claim that the information was commercial-in-confidence.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy warned the senator was placing “undue commercial pressure” on the ABC if he pressed his question.

So far Kerry’s salary details remain under lock and key. Which is exactly how it should be.

Source: AAP / The Age

13 Responses

  1. Kerry is a good commentator, does his work well. Compare that with the pollies we have had, I’m glad to be rid of them, except they have made sure they will get well looked after even if the country goes broke, and all the workers have lost their homes, Jobs and any money they may have managed to saveup. They should have been put in the detention camps where the previous enemies of Australia had been put.

  2. Kerry O’Brien obviously had to supply some proof of ability, and continue to show such continued value to maintain his position. How many Parliamentarians in Federal, State or Local Government can you say who receive the same approval rateing as Kerry. I know that almost all of the Parliamentarians who have been in power or even in opposition, most of the people – intelligent people – are pleased to see the last of them unfortunately there are always some totally obsessed people who just about go into a coma when their “favourite’ is kicked out so we might get a better livelyhood.

  3. The guy is a legend he should have his own channel, screw the whinging pollies’ maybe they should actually start achieving something instead of bitching about someone who does a better job then they do.

  4. It’s a fair question regardless of whether politicians are voted in or out. It’s an everything or nothing situation – either all salaries should be secret, or all should be public. If Kerry is prepared to ask the question, he should equally be prepared to answer it, otherwise he really does look like a hypocrite.

    I have no political leanings myself, but Kerry is not a great interviewer really; his Labor bias is embarrassing on occasion.

  5. Many people have tried to remove or endanger Kerry. He is one of the highest paid at the ABC, but he deserves it. He is a commanding, informed, probing and comprehensive journalist. He just knows how to push too many buttons, especially for the Liberals and Nationals. The ABC will have a struggle to find a new Kezza when time comes.

  6. i dont have a problem with transparency when it comes to salaries paid ultimately by the taxpayer. I think the taxpaying public does have a right to know what this guy is paid and in fact what a whole lot of senior public servants are paid. And there should be more information about the true value of politicians salaries once all the lerks and perks are also taken into account. There doesnt seem to be a compelling reason to maintain a veil of secrecy so far as the public sector and how tax payers dollars are spent.

  7. It’s quite clear this Liberal Senator is over paid if all he is worried about is what other people are on.

    Shame our pollies can’t be fully scrutinised.

  10. What would knowing his salary gain the poliiticians? At best it might give a comeback if he was asking a question about politicians’ perks, sweet superannuation deal, etc. Or could they seriously say he’s paid too much for a public broadcaster and get him kicked out of his job?

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