Massive backlash against Channel 10 for urging staff to work on Australia Day
Joe Hildebrand – a former employee of Channel 10 – has appeared on Sunrise to take his former employers to task after it was reported that two senior executives had sent an email urging staff to boycott Australia Day by working instead of observing the public holiday.
Hildebrand, 46, was formerly a host of the Studio 10 morning program from 2013 until he was let go in 2020.
He has now accused execs at Network Ten of “virtue signalling”.
Hildebrand went on to insist that, rather than condemn the idea of Australia Day altogether – a national holiday that the majority of Australians still support – that instead Channel 10 should consider donating to a variety of Indigenous charities.
During the fiery conversation on Sunrise with host Monique Wright and News.com.au political reporter Samantha Maiden, Hildebrand also couldn't resist taking a swipe at Channel 10's continuing woes amid diving ratings and rounds of redundancies.
“I understand they're going to allow republicans to work on the Queen's Birthday, and they're going to allow Liberal voters to work on Labour Day, so there's some terrific initiatives coming through,” he said.
“I'd also like to see from all these companies that have sent out group emails to their employees recently - and the good thing about Channel 10 is that every year there are fewer and fewer employees to send group emails to - why don't they instead donate half their profits to charities that actually help Indigenous people?”
After mentioning several non-profits that are achieving positive results for First Nations people, including the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, Hildebrand said that improving literacy is “probably the most important thing you can do to reduce intergenerational poverty”.
“I'm pretty sure you'll see them jump at the chance to [donate to Indigenous charities], just as they've jumped at the chance to show how sensitive they are about Australia Day,” Hildebrand continued. “By January 26, they'll be falling over themselves to hand out their money, all their profits – obviously profits don't apply to Channel 10 – to these terrific charities that work so hard for so little money, all the time.”
Two execs at Channel 10 have sent emails to staff informing them that the network won’t be celebrating Australia Day, saying that employees can come to work instead of taking the day off. Parent company Paramount ANZ's chief content officer Beverley McGarvey and co-lead Jarrod Villani told staff it was “not a day of celebration” for Indigenous people and said employees could decide whether they wished to take the day off as a public holiday or work if they preferred.
“At Paramount ANZ we aim to create a safe place to work where cultural differences are appreciated, understood and respected,” the pair wrote. “For our First Nations people, we as an organisation acknowledge that January 26 is not a day of celebration.
“We recognise that there has been a turbulent history, particularly around that date and the recognition of that date being Australia Day.”
Staff could choose to work through the national holiday if they didn't feel comfortable celebrating it and could take another day of leave instead.
“We recognise that January 26 evokes different emotions for our employees across the business, and we are receptive to employees who do not feel comfortable taking this day as a public holiday,” the email read.
The network bosses were adamant that those who did wish to celebrate Australia Day “reflect and respect the different perspectives and viewpoints of all Australians”.
Channel 10 has also been struggling in the ratings with questions now being raised about the station's viability. It was also revealed by Daily Mail Australia that the network was forced to cancel its annual Christmas Party.
Images: Sunrise