Peter Costello resigned as chairman of Nine Entertainment Co. days after he allegedly collided with a journalist at an airport, knocking him to the ground.
Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby said in a statement issued on Sunday afternoon: “I want to thank Peter for his contribution to Nine for over a decade.”
“As the announcement makes clear, it has played an important role in the Big Nine milestones of that time – a period marked by dramatic digital transformation for the media industry and our company.”
Costello, who was Federal Treasurer in the Howard government and was once considered the next Prime Minister, was questioned by The Australian Journalist Liam Mendes after arriving at Canberra airport on Thursday afternoon.
The 66-year-old refused to answer a series of questions relating to a $1 million payment made to the channel’s former head of news, Darren Wick, who faces sexual harassment allegations.
Mendes introduced himself to Costello and asked why the Nine boss had not shown his support for the network’s chief executive, Mike Sneesby.
Sneesby has come under fire following reports that he approved the large payment to Mr Wick.
Just a minute after Mendes began firing off questions, Costello appeared to push him to the ground.
Nine chairman Peter Costello (pictured in the video was filmed appearing to push a journalist at Canberra airport on Thursday).
Costello, 66, was questioned by Australian journalist Liam Mendes (pictured) after arriving at Canberra airport on Thursday afternoon.
GoPro footage captured the moment Costello collided with Mendes, knocking him to the ground.
Costello appeared to laugh before letting a nervous Mendes stand up.
The journalist, apparently frustrated, followed Costello to the airport parking lot and accused him of “assault.”
“Mr. Costello, you can’t do that, you can’t do that, it’s all caught on camera,” Mendes said.
“That was quite violent behavior, Mr. Costello.” “Journalists working for Nine approach people in this way every day and you attacked me at that time,” he alleged.
—These are serious questions, Mr. Costello. You can’t just pressure someone like that.
‘Is that behavior really appropriate for a working journalist?’
On Thursday afternoon, in front of Parliament, Costello denied having pressured the journalist.
“There is no assault,” Costello said.
“I didn’t put a finger or a fist or anything else on him.”
Costello said Mendes was walking backwards while filming and tripped over a billboard.
“I’ve seen it happen a million times…journalists go back to the bollards and fall,” he said.
“I didn’t hit him.”
Costello also denied that viewers of the footage described him as aggressive.
Before Costello appeared to push Mendes, he had asked the Nine chairman: “Do you support Mr Sneesby as chief executive and his handling of the Darren Wick saga?”
Wick, the former director of Nine News, was the subject of serious allegations of misconduct shortly before his resignation from the company in March.
It is understood that both Costello and Sneesby were aware of the allegations at the time of Wick’s resignation.
Sneesby has since faced criticism for approving Wick’s $1 million financial deal, which included a payout and licensing fees.
It is understood Costello was unaware of the payment until Sneesby approved it and has not publicly supported the CEO since.
Costello signed a letter addressed to all Nine staff last Thursday, obtained by the ABCwho acknowledged the “serious” allegations against Wick.
The journalist introduced himself to Costello (pictured) and began asking why the Nine boss had not shown his support for the network’s chief executive Mike Sneesby.
“We recognize that we need to do more,” the letter said.
All Nine staff will be required to complete updated sexual harassment prevention training by June 30.
Costello is understood to have been in Canberra on Thursday for the opening of Nine’s new office in Parliament.
