ABC presenter Tony Armstrong has been called out by the broadcaster after his new venture was revealed.
The Aussie TV star, 34, announced last week he was leaving his role with ABC News Breakfast after three years.
He has now became the voice of NRMA Insurance ads, which he voices but doesn’t appear in, and the ads have been on TV since July.
ABC’s Media Watch program was discussing his new gig on Monday, when host Janine Perrett said it was ‘astonishing’ Armstrong had failed to get approval from the broadcaster before landing his new role.
‘It’s a shame this moonlighting at the expense of the ABC’s integrity is what we’re talking about in his final week on News Breakfast,’ Perrett said.
She added: ‘Tony’s arguably one of the ABCs biggest stars.’
‘He’s not only on the breakfast TV couch, he’s appeared at night on a new sports show, he’s one of many appearing in ABC News promos and is the face of a new five part series.
‘So we were stunned when we got confirmation that Tony was selling an insurance company as well’.
ABC presenter Tony Armstrong has been called out by the broadcaster after his new venture was revealed
ABC’s Editorial Policy states that any external work by a high profile presenter isn’t banned but is considered ‘very high risk.’
ABC told Media Watch the voiceover was done without its knowledge and was due to a ‘misunderstanding with Tony’s external representation’.
‘They have been provided a copy of the external work guidelines and reminded all ABC employees are required to meet them. Tony is a high valued employee and has the ABC’s full support,’ the broadcaster said.
A stunned Perrett responded: ‘A misunderstanding?’
‘How any ABC reporter could voice a commercial for one of the biggest brands in Australia and not think that is a conflict, is beyond us.’
‘If this is not a breach of the guidelines on external work, which says you must seek approval from above, we don’t know what is’.
Media Watch said Armstrong did not responded to its request for comment.
ABC’s Media Watch program was discussing his new gig on Monday, when host Janine Perrett said it was ‘astonishing’ Armstrong had failed to get approval from the broadcaster before landing his new role
Armstrong announced he is leaving his role with ABC News Breakfast last week after three years.
He revealed his last show will be on October 4 but shared his hopes that he will be able to return as a guest in a heartfelt statement.
‘I’ve been pretty nervous about doing this,’ Tony confirmed.
‘I’ve retired from News Brekkie and my last day will be October 4.
‘I just want to thank absolutely everyone – all of you guys, my colleagues, everyone behind the camera, all the producers, all the people who watch as well and come up in the street and say g’day and all that kind of stuff,’ he went on.
‘Um, yeah, it’s been a whirlwind sort of three-and-a-touch years, a lot’s happened, it feels like I’ve been on a bit of a rocket ship, but the support that I’ve got from News Brekkie and news in general has been amazing.
‘Huge thank you, I’m going to miss the couch – I’m not going to miss the alarm, but I’ll miss the couch – I’ve had such a ball.’
ABC’s Editorial Policy states that any external work by a high profile presenter isn’t banned but is considered ‘very high risk
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