Michael Christian sues SCA over redundancy and royal prank call
Radio announcer Michael Christian is taking Federal Court action against his former employer Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).
Christian had been with the network for almost two decades when his role was made redundant in February. His legal action against the broadcaster also relates to the infamous ‘royal prank call’ back in 2012: Christian claims SCA did not sufficiently support him through the controversy.
Michael Christian discusses the call on Today Tonight in 2012
The on-air prank call happened when Christian and his co-host, Mel Greig, were fronting The Summer 30 program. The duo impersonated Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth as they called the hospital where Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was staying due to what was described as “severe morning sickness”.
At the time, SCA apologised for the inconvenience caused by the call, but celebrated the stunt on its website as “the best Royal prank ever”. Things took a turn, however, when the nurse who was duped by the call died by suicide.
Greig departed the network at the end of 2013 after settling her own dispute, however, Christian remained for over a decade. His roles included being anchor and announcer for the 2DayFM breakfast show Dan & Maz, as well as host of the podcast Blak Matters, afternoon announcer on 2DayFM, and his most recent run as morning announcer on the Sydney station.
Christian contends he was ordered by the station’s production team to make the call, and the broadcaster had promised to provide support to its hosts if on-air content ever went too far. Instead, SCA did not “step in” during the fallout, and let the radio presenters take the blame, he claims.
His legal action also alleges his redundancy earlier this year was not genuine, because SCA still requires the role to be performed by somebody else. He and his lawyers from Clayton Utz are claiming SCA contravened general protections provisions, in breach of the Fair Work Act.
An SCA spokesperson told Mumbrella: “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.”
Back in 2015, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released its report into the royal prank call matter, finding the radio station breached a condition of its broadcast licence by secretly recording the call with the nurse.
Later that year, 2DayFM had an additional licence condition imposed, which centred around getting explicit consent from people to broadcast their conversations, or informing them upfront that their words may be broadcast. All staff were also compelled to undertake ethics training, and the station had to broadcast a three-hour show to “raise awareness of the signs and risks of bullying, depression and anxiety”. Any advertising revenue throughout the three-hour broadcast had to be donated to charity.
The first Case Management Hearing for Christian v SCA will take place on 1 August.
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