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Four Corners snitch line: Liberal senator sets up an encrypted email account for ABC staff to dob in ‘concerning incidents’ after broadcaster foots bill for reporter’s defamatory tweet
- Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has established an encrypted email account for ABC staff to ‘dob in’ the broadcaster
- She asked for employees to alert her to ‘concerning decisions or incidents’
- It comes after the ABC paid $130,000 in costs for defamatory tweets by Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan
- Senator Henderson claimed the payments demonstrated ‘discrimination in favour’ of Four Corners staff
- Henderson worked for the ABC in the 1990s as a current affairs presenter
Relations between the Coalition government and the ABC have deteriorated even further in the wake of a defamatory tweet by a Four Corners journalist.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has established an encrypted email account for ABC staff to ‘dob in’ their employer, according to The Australian.
The politician, who herself formerly served as a current affairs host with the ABC, asked for employees to alert her to ‘concerning decisions or incidents’ at the national broadcaster.
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson (pictured in 2018) has established an encrypted email account for ABC staff to ‘dob in’ their employer, according to The Australian
It comes in the wake of the ABC paying $130,000 in costs for a defamatory tweet by investigative journalist Louise Milligan.
The reporter wrongly accused Liberal MP Andrew Laming of ‘upskirting’ in a series of tweets.
The broadcaster has agreed to pay $79,000 for damages and $50,000 for legal fees on Milligan’s behalf in a settlement reached last week.
In a statement, the ABC said they ‘decided to pay Ms Milligan’s costs in this matter, a decision arising from particular and exceptional circumstances’.
It comes in the wake of the ABC paying $130,000 in costs for a defamatory tweet by investigative journalist Louise Milligan (left in 2018) against Liberal MP Andrew Laming (right)
However Senator Henderson claimed the payments demonstrated ‘discrimination in favour’ of Four Corners staff.
‘Other ABC reporters, particular junior reporters or those working in the regions, don’t receive these types of benefits,’ said Henderson.
‘It’s for this reason that I am asking ABC staff to email me anonymously and securely, via an encrypted Proton email account about other concerning decisions or incidents at [the ABC].’
Daily Mail Australia reached out to the ABC for comment regarding this story, and they politely declined.
The broadcaster has agreed to pay $79,000 for damages and $50,000 for legal fees on Milligan’s behalf in a settlement reached last week. Milligan seen here in March
It is just the latest example of apparent ill-will between the incumbent Federal government and the broadcaster.
In May, former Attorney-General Christian Porter dropped his defamation case against the ABC after the broadcaster was forced to say it ‘regrets’ an article it published about a cabinet minister accused of rape.
Mr Porter filed a case against the ABC and Louise Milligan in March, claiming he was the victim of a malicious ‘trial by media’ regarding allegations that he raped his 16-year-old female debating teammate in Sydney 1988, when he was 17.
In June, a Four Corners report accused PM Scott Morrison (left, in 2019) of endorsing bizarre ‘QAnon’ conspiracy theories about satanic padeophiles
Then in June, a Four Corners report accused PM Scott Morrison of endorsing bizarre ‘QAnon’ conspiracy theories about satanic padeophiles during a 2018 speech about child abuse.
Mr Morrison was subsequently asked about the program in a press conference.
‘I find it deeply offensive that there would be any suggestion that I would have any involvement or support for such a dangerous organisation,’ Mr Morrison said.
‘I just think that is really poor form.’
In May, former Attorney-General Christian Porter (pictured in June) dropped his defamation case against the ABC
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