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Radio host faces fresh 'cash' probe
By Rebecca DiGirolamo
February 14, 2004

THE broadcasting watchdog will conduct an investigation into the commercial dealings at the heart of cash-for-comment allegations against Adelaide radio announcer Leon Byner.

The board of the Australian Broadcasting Authority will meet on Thursday to ratify a recommendation that the 56-year-old morning host of radio station 5AA be the subject of an inquiry.

ABA chairman David Flint said it had ordered the inquiry after receiving last week the report of an internal investigation by 5AA management into allegations that Byner was involved in cash for comment.

"We think there is sufficient there for us to investigate in the public interest and use our powers to ascertain what has happened," Professor Flint said. "This doesn't in any way mean we have found a breach."

The allegations surround claims in The Advertiser last month that Byner had accepted cash from Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison, who has described the payment of $6000 to the announcer as a "private arrangement" for media coaching.

But the business arrangements with Mr Harbison and other organisations where Byner has offered his media expertise for a fee were not publicly disclosed, as required by ABA standards.

Professor Flint said the authority would investigate whether there had been a breach of the disclosure standards.

"We don't have any of the details and we're not sure about whether there are such contracts and whether they should have been disclosed," he said.

Once a decision to investigate is ratified at Thursday's meeting, the ABA will determine the terms of reference for the inquiry, which would involve the request of relevant documentation and interviews with Byner and 5AA management.

"I don't think it's going to be a very long investigation," Professor Flint said. "But we have to be thorough."

The board refused to decide on the matter last week until it received a review of the allegations conducted by 5AA.

Station general manager Paul Bartlett said yesterday management had not been advised of a decision to investigate.

Mr Bartlett said Byner had co-operated with the 5AA internal investigation, which had been handed to the ABA last Friday.

Byner will remain suspended on full pay until after the ABA inquiry is completed.

Sydney radio stars Alan Jones and John Laws came under scrutiny in 1999 for accepting huge sums in private arrangements for on-air endorsements and positive comments. As a result, the ABA tightened the broadcasting standards. The Australian