Politics
• Analysis
ABC Reporter Could Face Disciplinary Action Over Opinion Piece, Union Says
ABC management has refused to rule out disciplinary action against climate journalist Michael Slezak over an opinion piece, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) said in a letter to ABC union members on Monday. The union claims the abc reporter disciplinary action threat targets him for defending press freedom.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 12, 2026
• 3 Min Read
Union says Slezak was targeted
In its letter to members, the MEAA claimed Slezak was being targeted for defending press freedom in his capacity as an elected union office-holder. The union said it expects him to keep advocating for access to information in his role.
"Championing our right to information is something we expect Michael to do and be allowed to do without hindrance," MEAA said.
The meeting with ABC news management
Last week Slezak met the ABC's new director of news, Simon Robinson, and the head of digital and national news, Lee Glendinning, to discuss adherence to the ABC's external work policy.
The union gave its account of what was raised:
- •"Simon and Lee raised the possibility that Michael may have breached the ABC's external work policy and code of conduct," the union said.
- •The union claims management refused to rule out disciplinary action including dismissal against Slezak at the meeting.
- •Slezak is an award-winning ABC climate journalist, federal president of the MEAA and head of the ABC house committee.
- •The union says he did not need approval for the article, because his agreement with the ABC permits public comment on behalf of journalists in his MEAA role.
The opinion piece on the Asic proposal
The article appeared in the Australian Financial Review last week and was written in Slezak's capacity as MEAA federal president. It concerned a proposal by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) to restrict journalists from accessing information such as the home addresses and dates of birth of company directors - an issue the union has campaigned on.
ABC response and new news director
An ABC spokesperson said the guidelines for external work and public comment were important in protecting the reputation of the ABC, and that "The Director of News is meeting with staff to ensure there is a clear and consistent understanding of how the guidelines should be applied" and upheld.
Robinson was handpicked by ABC managing director Hugh Marks before the incumbent news chief, Justin Stevens, was asked to resign in May. The former Reuters executive joined the ABC in September.
Open letter and tense union history
An open letter signed by 197 ABC union members as of Monday afternoon calls on Marks and Robinson to confirm Slezak will not face disciplinary action.
"We see this as an attack on our right to work collectively through our union, a hindrance to our delegates"
The letter describes the situation as an obstruction of journalists' duty to uphold press freedom. Relations between the union and Marks have been tense since more than 2,000 staff walked off the job for a 24-hour strike that forced ABC services across TV, radio and digital to use BBC content and repeats, and Marks was publicly critical of the enterprise bargaining process.
Union members will meet on Tuesday to discuss a collective response.
