Today I can break the news that shareholders in Nine Entertainment Co. are agitating for the return of former board chair Peter Costello in the wake of a scathing report by an independent inquiry that uncovered a toxic workplace culture across the company.

The report by a professional workplace culture firm released yesterday uncovered widespread bullying, sexism, sexual harassment, and a practice of covering up complaints and protecting perpetrators while gaslighting those who lodged complaints.

The review found Nine’s broadcast division including its radio and TV networks had “very high prevalence rates of abuse of power or authority”, that accountability was lacking, decisions in the workplace were made based on personal gain or preference, and 57% of employees in the broadcast division reported experiencing bullying, discrimination or harassment.

“We’d really like Mr Costello to return as chair of Nine Entertainment,” a major shareholder who wished to remain anonymous told me.

“I’m talking to others with significant blocks of Nine shares about calling a special general meeting at which current chair Catherine West would step aside and Peter Costello would return to the job.”

Readers of The Bug will recall that Mr Costello quit as Nine’s board chair in June after he was accused of the attempted murder of a journalist from the Murdoch media broadshit The Australian at Canberra Airport. (Note to subs: You’ll need to check that bit about the airport incident, but I think I’m on the money – BT)

The anonymous major shareholder said he and others seeking Mr Costello’s return had no criticisms of Ms West as chair.

“She’s doing a fine job and has inherited the mess this report reveals,” he said.

“Our plan is to re-install Peter Costello as chair then at the same special general meeting we’d move a motion to sack him for failing to do his job and prevent the decades-old workplace shit show uncovered by the independent report. Catherine West would then be voted back in as Nine chair.

“He was chair while all these longstanding, appalling, and damaging practices were occurring so he needs to take responsibility.

“Basically we just want to wipe that smug smirk off his flabby jowls and expose him for the shallow overpaid talentless incompetent right-wing fraud he has always been,” the shareholder said.

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