Latest news with #MichaelChristian
7NEWS
a day ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Incoming AFL operations boss Greg Swann foreshadows more transparency in major change to MRO
AFL match review officer Michael Christian will front more media scrutiny and provide greater public transparency on his decisions under the new footy department regime that Greg Swann is days away from leading. Outgoing Brisbane CEO Swann oversaw the last win of his Lions tenure on Friday night, copping a celebratory Gatorade shower from the players during the team song after his side beat the Western Bulldogs in a 10-point thriller at the Gabba. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Michael Christian set to provide more transparency under Greg Swann. From Monday, after almost three decades of administration at club level which has spanned stints at Carlton, Collingwood and Brisbane, Swann will begin life as an AFL executive. The 63-year-old was headhunted by AFL CEO Andrew Dillon to lead football operations, a portfolio which is already bursting with a long list of pressing to-do items. Chief among them is arguably the match review officer's role and directives, which are certain to change under Swann, who says there should be more public clarity around decisions made in the AFL judicial system. In an expansive and insightful chat with Channel 7 inside the Brisbane rooms after his final game at the Lions, Swann said he thinks the game is in good order generally speaking, but flagged a number of small changes coming, including with the MRO. 'I think the game's in fantastic health, I just think there are a few tweaks that we need, and hopefully we can get that done and we'll go from there,' he said. 'I want to go around and talk to the clubs and just see what people think. 'One of the things I think we also should do is actually explain why we get to a decision that we get to — I don't see any reason why we shouldn't do that. 'Michael Christian might have a bit more of a role in the media to explain how he's got to certain decisions. That's something that I think we should do and just be more transparent and put it out there.' Match lengths in 2025 have consistently been ballooning out towards, and even beyond, 130 minutes due to the number of stoppages throughout the game. Swann said he wants to tighten that back up. 'We wait too long for people to set up,' he said, as an example of why games are going so long. 'Even from a ruckman point of view, if there are enough people around the stoppage, just ball it up and get on with it. I think that's a thing we need to look at. 'And that might be able to be changed relatively quickly, so we'll see.' Also somewhere on his agenda will be the functioning of academies and father-son draft rules. Coming from a northern club like Brisbane, Swann knows the importance of having the academies, he said, so their role in the talent pathways system going forward is without question — despite the frustrations of some Victorian clubs. But Swann admitted the incoming changes to the drafting and points system — changes that pre-date his start date — are necessary. 'If the whole competition decided that that wasn't a good idea then you'd have a look at that, but I think most of the clubs want to keep that,' Swann said of the father-son rule, on the same day that potential 2026 No.1 draft pick Cody Walker, son of Carlton great Andrew, nominated the Blues as a father-son. 'As far as the academies go, there's a new system in place this year from a points perspective, so it's going to be harder for the clubs to get their players, so I think that needs to play out for the next year or two and see what that does. 'Having lived through it, the academies are really important to get guys and girls to play up here. We're in a big battle with the NRL and rugby union. 'But it is fair to say that the price that clubs have paid in the last few years hasn't been high enough, but this new system will make it so.' Across a chat that went for almost 10 minutes in all, Swann also said he wants to survey every club about the sub rule, and confirmed he is not a fan of umpires bouncing the ball at centre square restarts. And while change is doubtless under Swann, he said given he is coming into the role at this late stage of the season, it won't all come straight away, and won't necessarily be wholesale when it does.
The Age
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Royal prankster ‘gagged' after nurse tragedy, court told
An ex-radio host at the centre of an infamous royal prank call that ended in tragedy has claimed his former employer sought to gag him from speaking out about the incident before sacking him in a redundancy process that was 'not genuine.' Michael Christian launched Federal Court proceedings last week against Southern Cross Austereo, including for alleged contraventions of the Fair Work Act and whistleblower protections, after his role was made redundant in February. He had been employed by the network for more than 20 years. Christian alleges he was directed by Austereo to participate in the disastrous hoax with his co-host, Mel Greig, on December 4, 2012, which marked his second day in his then new role as a presenter of the Hot 30 Countdown on Sydney's 2Day FM. During the stunt, the presenters impersonated the then Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth in a call to a London hospital where the then Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales, had been admitted for severe morning sickness. The call, aired hours later, unexpectedly resulted in the pair eliciting private medical information about the Duchess. The deception triggered international outrage after Jacintha Saldanha, one of the nurses who was tricked, died by suicide. The presenters' concerns about the prank and broadcasting the call were dismissed, Christian's lawyers say. They allege the network 'did not immediately take public accountability' after Saldanha's death but left the co-hosts 'exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats' as 'convenient fall guys and scapegoats'. Christian's role was terminated on February 28 this year on the grounds of a purported redundancy, his lawyers say in the court documents released on Wednesday.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Royal prankster ‘gagged' after nurse tragedy, court told
An ex-radio host at the centre of an infamous royal prank call that ended in tragedy has claimed his former employer sought to gag him from speaking out about the incident before sacking him in a redundancy process that was 'not genuine.' Michael Christian launched Federal Court proceedings last week against Southern Cross Austereo, including for alleged contraventions of the Fair Work Act and whistleblower protections, after his role was made redundant in February. He had been employed by the network for more than 20 years. Christian alleges he was directed by Austereo to participate in the disastrous hoax with his co-host, Mel Greig, on December 4, 2012, which marked his second day in his then new role as a presenter of the Hot 30 Countdown on Sydney's 2Day FM. During the stunt, the presenters impersonated the then Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth in a call to a London hospital where the then Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales, had been admitted for severe morning sickness. The call, aired hours later, unexpectedly resulted in the pair eliciting private medical information about the Duchess. The deception triggered international outrage after Jacintha Saldanha, one of the nurses who was tricked, died by suicide. The presenters' concerns about the prank and broadcasting the call were dismissed, Christian's lawyers say. They allege the network 'did not immediately take public accountability' after Saldanha's death but left the co-hosts 'exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats' as 'convenient fall guys and scapegoats'. Christian's role was terminated on February 28 this year on the grounds of a purported redundancy, his lawyers say in the court documents released on Wednesday.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Former 2Day FM host Mel Greig breaks years-long silence on royal prank as former co-host sues network
Former 2Day FM radio host Mel Greig has broken her years-long silence over the infamous royal prank to show her support for former co-host Michael Christian. Greig and Christian were hosting the Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) breakfast program back in 2012 when a hoax call they made to a London hospital, while impersonating the then-Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth, ended in tragedy when nurse Jacintha Saldanha took her own life days later. This week, Christian launched legal action against SCA, claiming the duo were ordered by the 2Day FM production team to make the hoax call. But when they copped widespread backlash over the prank, he claims the network let them be the 'fall guys'. 'I understand why Michael is choosing to go down this path,' Greig wrote in a statement shared on Instagram overnight. 'Whilst there are various reasons we may never be able to speak our entire truth on all that occurred, I do hope that the continued attention on this tragic incident results in substantial reforms in the way media produce content and support their staff, so that something like this never happens again. 'My thoughts and supports as always are with the Saldanha family.' Greig also thanked her followers for showering her with love as this tragic incident returns to the spotlight. 'Thank you for the beautiful messages of support and checking in,' she wrote in a follow-up post. 'Today has absolutely knocked me around. I'll take tomorrow to focus on self care.' 'For those that think this was a two day media story. No. 12yrs later here we are.' It was indeed 12 years ago that Greig and Christian made the phone call to King Edward VII hospital to inquire about Princess Catherine – then the Duchess of Cambridge – who had been admitted for severe morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George. The duo were tasked with getting detailed information about the Duchess from the nurses and they were successful when their call was transferred by nurse Saldanha to the Duchess's nurse, who then shared private medical information on air. Saldanha sadly took her life days after the prank call, and both Christian and Greig copped widespread backlash over her death. Christian is now suing 2Day FM broadcaster SCA in the federal court, claiming the broadcaster did not 'step in' but rather let himself and Greig take the blame, which he alleges negatively impacting their careers. 'SCA did not immediately take public accountability for the incident, but rather allowed Mr Christian and Ms Greig to be left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats,' his lawyers wrote in the court documents. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and noncompliance.' Christian – who was just two days into the job at the time – claimed the company had promised to provide support to the 'shock jocks' if the prank ever went too far. He says the broadcaster told him in 2013 that they would help restore his reputation and rebuild his career, and he felt let down when SCA did not keep their word. 'As the matter is currently before the courts, and out of respect for the legal process and the privacy of those involved, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time,' an SCA spokesperson told on Tuesday when the lawsuit came to light. In 2013, Greig filed a similar claim against SCA with Fair Work Australia, accusing them of failing to maintain a safe workplace. The case was 'amicably resolved' and Greig later resigned from the network. As for Christian, he stayed on with the network until he was made redundant in February this year.
7NEWS
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Australian radio host Michael Christian sues radio network over 2012 royal prank call that ended in tragedy
An Australian radio host at the centre of a tragic prank call is suing Southern Cross Austereo over his treatment in the aftermath of the incident. Michael Christian was presenting radio show 2Day FM with Mel Greig in December 2012 when they made an on-air phone call to King Edward VII Hospital in London. At the time of the call, the then-Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was in hospital being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum —severe morning sickness. Christian, who had only worked at 2Day FM for two days, alleges the radio show's production team had ordered him and Greig to impersonate King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II to get information about the Duchess' condition. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha answered the radio's call and, after falling for the hoax, transferred the radio hosts through to the Duchess' nurse. Saldanha was found dead five days later after taking her own life, leaving a note blaming the radio stunt and the hospital's handling of the situation for her death. Her tragic death led to widespread backlash against the radio hosts and broadcaster. Thirteen years after the incident, Christian has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming the broadcaster failed to provide support when the prank spiralled into a global scandal. According to court documents, Christian had been assured that Southern Cross Austereo would 'step in' if on-air content had crossed the line. His lawyers allege the company allowed him and co-host Greig to be 'left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment, and abuse, including death threats'. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance'. Christian has also said that the prank breached the Australian Communication and Media Authority code of practice. Court documents say the delay in legal action being pursued was due to the broadcaster promising Christian that they would restore his reputation and rebuild his career. Christian's lawyers state the firm failed in this promise by not providing meaningful health support, not starting a public relations campaign to rebuild his brand, and failed to offer any opportunities or pay rises to reward his loyalty to the company. The legal action follows Christian being made redundant by SCA in February, which he alleges was not genuine as 'SCA still requires (his) former role to be performed'. Michael Christian is seeking penalties, compensation for economic loss, and damages. Southern Cross Austereo has yet to respond to the lawsuit, which is awaiting a federal court date, but provided a short statement to media outlets regarding the case. 'As the matter is currently before the courts, and out of respect for the legal process and the privacy of those involved, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time,' a spokesperson for SCA said.
