Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

I had planned to oppose this motion, but, since talking to a lot of people in the industry, not at the ABC, and executives of TV stations, I think it will be enough for the ABC to publish the total money paid to their staff, otherwise it will inhibit ABC staff members who might want to move into the commercial area. If they are going to be paid half a million dollars, I don't know, but, if the commercial sector knows that they are only being paid $200,000 at the ABC, the commercial people will know they would only have to pay $250,000. I support some of where you're coming from, but I will go along with the Greens on this one. As long as we're told the total money spent on journalism and staff, that is enough for us to know. I think individually those contracts should be protected.