Peter Costello has stepped down as chairman of Nine Entertainment Co. days after he allegedly bumped into a journalist at an airport and knocked him to the ground.
Nine chief executive officer Mike Sneesby said in a statement released on Sunday afternoon: ‘I want to thank Peter for his contribution to Nine over more than a decade’.
‘As the announcement makes clear, he has played an important role in the big Nine milestones over that time – a period marked by dramatic digital transformation for the media industry and our company.’
Just a few days ago, Mr Costello, who was the former Federal Treasurer in the Howard government, 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 related to a $1million payout made to the channel’s former news boss Darren Wick, who faces allegations of sexual harassment.
Mr Mendes introduced himself to Mr Costello and questioned why the Nine boss hadn’t shown his support for the network’s chief executive officer, Mike Sneesby.
Mr Sneesby has come under fire following reports he approved the large payout to Mr Wick.
Just a minute after Mr Mendes began firing off questions, he appeared to be pushed to the ground by Mr Costello.
Nine chairman Peter Costello (pictured in the video was filmed appearing to push over a journalist at Canberra Airport on Thursday
Mr Costello, 66, was questioned by The Australian journalist Liam Mendes (pictured) after arriving at Canberra Airport on Thursday afternoon
GoPro footage captured the moment Mr Costello bumped into Mr Mendes, knocking him to the ground.
Mr Costello appeared to laugh before leaving a flustered Mr Mendes to pick himself up.
The seemingly frustrated reporter continued to follow Mr Costello into the airport car park and accused him of ‘assault’.
‘Mr Costello, you can’t do that, you can’t do that, it’s all captured on camera,’ Mr Mendes said.
‘That was quite violent behaviour Mr Costello. Journalists who work for Nine approach people in this manner every day and you attacked me just then,’ he alleged.
‘They’re serious questions Mr Costello. You can’t just push someone like that.
‘Is that behaviour really appropriate to a journalist who’s working?’
On Thursday evening outside Parliament House, Mr Costello denied he had pushed the journalist.
‘There is no assault,’ Mr Costello said.
‘I did not lay a finger or a fist or anything else on him.’
Mr Costello said Mr Mendes was walking backwards while filming and tripped over an advertising placard.
‘I have seen it happen a million times … reporters back into the bollards and fall over,’ he said.
‘I did not strike him.’
Mr Costello also denied that viewers of the footage would describe him as being aggressive.
Before Mr Costello appeared to push Mr Mendes over he had asked the Nine Chairman: ‘Do you support Mr Sneesby as CEO and his handling of the Darren Wick saga?’
Mr Wick, the former head of Nine News, was the subject of serious misconduct accusations shortly prior to his resignation from the company in March.
It’s understood both Mr Costello and Mr Sneesby were aware of the allegations at the time of Mr Wick’s resignation.
Mr Sneesby has since faced criticism for approving Mr Wick’s $1million financial settlement, which included a payout and leave entitlements.
It’s understood Mr Costello was unaware of the payout until after Mr Sneesby approved it and has not since publicly supported the CEO.
Mr Costello signed a letter to all Nine staff last Thursday, obtained by the ABC, which acknowledged the ‘serious’ claims against Mr Wick.
The journalist had introduced himself to Costello (pictured) and began questioning why the Nine boss hadn’t show his support for the network’s chief executive officer, Mike Sneesby
‘We recognise we need to do more,’ the letter read.
All Nine staff will be required to complete refreshed sexual harassment prevention training by June 30.
It’s understood Mr Costello was in Canberra on Thursday for the opening of Nine’s new office in Parliament House.