EXCLUSIVE 

Channel Nine has sacked the executive producer of its Darwin news operation following an ‘incident’ at the network’s Northern Territory Christmas party. 

Daily Mail Australia can reveal legendary television figure David Richardson was axed by the troubled network on Monday after Nine’s executives received a formal complaint about his conduct at its Darwin festive drinks. 

Network sources said Richardson – widely known as ‘Sluggo’ in media circles – had been in high spirits at the start of the work party last Friday night before allegedly making a number of ‘inappropriate comments’ as the evening wore on. 

He was summarily sacked on Monday – just seven weeks after relocating to the NT capital from Sydney to oversee the city’s news operations.

Before taking on the leadership role, Richardson had been working as a senior producer on Nine’s now defunct true crime series Under Investigation with Liz Hayes. 

It is understood Richardson was not furnished with the specific details of his alleged indiscretion before being dismissed by the network and, as a result, was unable to defend himself against the allegations. 

The one-time Today Tonight reporter was one of the final appointments made by Queensland news boss Amanda Paterson before she was sacked without warning last month. 

Richardson’s departure means Nine are now lacking news directors in four of its capital city newsrooms: Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth. 

The industry veteran made headlines in October after he posted an online rant about the ‘bulls**t’ he endured while trying to find a new job after Under Investigation was cancelled in August. 

‘I have to say the past couple of months have been challenging,’ he wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

‘The work/employment scene is fraught with ageist c**p and unbelievable bias and bulls**t.

‘The old days of someone making a phone call to hire an experienced operator are over, replaced by multiple interviews, non-replies and companies advertising jobs which are already earmarked or non-existent.’

He later clarified his comments were ‘not directed towards my media industry or TV’ and was instead a critique of the public sector and private firms that overlooked older, experienced operators.

He went on to say how much he was looking forward to working in the Darwin newsroom after being appointed to run the NT news operations. 

‘My new position has been granted within the TV industry I love and have served faithfully for decades,’ he said.

‘They had the decency to break the ageist ceiling. I commend them for that. 

‘I am so humbled and thankful to my cadre of friends, colleagues and associates over decades for their well wishes on my new position.

‘You all know who you are. We talk always. We never lost contact.’

The veteran newsman did not respond when approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia this week. 

His termination comes after interim Nine chief executive Matt Stanton implemented a zero-tolerance policy on inappropriate conduct at the network as he looks to refresh the media giant’s workplace culture following a damning external investigation.

The review, conducted by workplace culture firm Intersection and released in October, found Nine had ‘a systemic issue with abuse of power and authority; bullying, discrimination and harassment; and sexual harassment’.

The investigation revealed 57 per cent of staff in the media company’s broadcast division had experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment over the past five years, with a third saying they had been sexually harassed in that time frame. 

The report said the company’s toxic culture had been enabled by ‘a lack of leadership accountability; power imbalances; gender inequality and a lack of diversity; and significant distrust in leaders at all levels of the business’.   

‘Since the release of the report, we can appreciate the strong desire to understand accountability for inappropriate behaviour that has occurred in our workplace,’ he told staffers in the wake of the independent inquiry. 

‘There is no place at Nine for the abuse of power, bullying, sexual harassment or inappropriate conduct outlined in the Intersection report or for people who behave that way. 

‘There will be change at Nine and individuals will be held to account for behaviour of this nature. 

‘If a complaint is upheld, the consequences will be appropriate and proportionate, ranging from counselling, formal disciplinary action, to termination of employment.’ 

Paterson claims the network unfairly used the anonymous findings of the highly publicised cultural report to terminate her after 31 years of service during a brief meeting on November 7.

She has since launched legal action against Nine Entertainment and director of news and current affairs Fiona Dear, seeking damages arising from unlawful termination. 

On the day she was axed by Nine, Paterson was allegedly asked to attend a snap meeting with Ms Dear, who appeared via videolink from Sydney and told her that her employment was being terminated effective immediately.

Paterson was then escorted from the building without a chance to farewell staff or retrieve her puppy from her office, which was there as part of Nine’s pets at work policy.

Instead, an HR staff member was sent to fetch the puppy while Paterson waited in the network car park.

Paterson was reportedly told she had been sacked as a result of three alleged workplace breaches.

They included failing to complete her in-house online ‘training modules,’ botching the  contract extension for one of her staff members, and an office incident where she made a lighthearted reference to the recent removal of ‘d***heads’ from the company.

In an email confirming her departure, Dear said: ‘I wanted to let you know that QTQ News Director Amanda Paterson has finished up with Nine today.

‘While we formalise and internal and external recruitment process to replace the role, Kate Donnison has agreed to step in on a short-term basis until QTQ EP Brendan Hockings returns from the US and his annual leave.

‘Brendan will then act in the role until we finalise the recruitment process to ensure stability in leadership during this time.’ 

Meanwhile, no reasons have been offered publicly for the shock departure of former Nine Sydney news director Simon Hobbs, which Dear announced to staffers during a ‘town hall’ meeting on November 13, a week after Paterson was sacked. 

‘I wanted to let you know about some further changes to the news and current affairs leadership team,’ Dear said in the email. 

‘Simon Hobbs will be finishing up…with Nine at the end of this week.

‘Current deputy news director Margie McLew will assume the responsibilities of news director until a permanent replacement is finalised. 

‘Simon will be supporting Margie from home to ensure a seamless transition and handover in leadership, before finishing with the business on Friday, 15 November.

‘We are recruiting for three news director roles…the job ads are now live…and I’d encourage anyone who is interested to apply, or reach out for a confidential chat.’

Hobbs had been leading Nine’s Sydney operation for almost 13 years having rejoined the network in 2012 after working as a producer in the US for six years. 

Staffers were quick to point out that neither email thanked the departing news bosses for their time at the network or contribution to the company. 

It is understood Dear will wrap things up at the network for the year on Friday before heading off on an extended four-week holiday over the non-ratings period. 

The Perth news director role was left vacant after the former news boss, Gareth Parker, was tapped to run the channel’s national news desk. 

The departures come amid revelations Today show politics reporter Airlie Walsh is also suing the network in the federal court for sexual discrimination.

The specifics of her claim are yet to be aired publicly but it is understood they relate to historic interactions with a number of senior executives within the embattled media company.