It’s the topic everyone in the media is talking about, but ABC Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan SLAMS industry gossip about the REAL reason why TV chef David Anderson suddenly quit

ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan has criticised claims that chief executive David Anderson left the broadcaster after a row with chairman Kim Williams over a Four Corners revelation.

Anderson abruptly resigned last week, exactly one year into his second five-year term, sparking a flurry of speculation about the real reason for his decision.

Since then, rumours have circulated that Anderson and Williams had a major ‘disagreement’ over Milligan’s Four Corners documentary about the work culture at Seven West Media.

Sources told Daily Mail Australia that Williams reportedly told Anderson the episode of the gritty series was “as lame as can be” and that he had reservations about airing it.

Anderson reportedly ignored Williams’ concerns and decided to air the episode anyway, despite the fact that a former employee’s testimony had to be removed for legal reasons.

The speculation was published by journalist James Madden in the media section of The Australian on Monday, prompting a furious response from Milligan on social media.

‘[The] Australian loves to publish fiction. Again,’ she posted on X.

“Their story tonight is just as fake as the fake private investigators they say we hired on page one.

Investigative journalist Louise Milligan vehemently denied at X that there was a rift with outgoing director David Anderson

ABC CEO David Anderson has announced he is stepping down as chief executive

“It’s happened so many times now in their creepy, strange, obsessive campaign that it shouldn’t surprise me.”

She added: ‘The same journalist who published this latest fictional story wrote 3 years ago that I was ‘at war’ with the CEO of ABC, when all I had ever had was positive contact with David Anderson. Instead I was in bed 24 hours a day recovering from major surgery.

‘I don’t get it. It’s all so incredibly weird.’

In a later tweet, she revealed that she and Madden were former cadet colleagues 24 years ago, calling him a “nice, normal, laid-back guy” at the time.

“I find it sad that he has begun publishing false stories about a former colleague who never did him any harm,” Milligan wrote.

The ABC responded to the Australian report on Monday afternoon by branding the article “false” in a public statement.

“The ABC informed the journalist before publication that the unsubstantiated claim was unfounded, but The Australian published it anyway,” the statement on the broadcaster’s website said.

The tweets came days after Anderson stepped down, but he will remain in office until the new year before receiving a hefty pension payment.

According to the ABC’s annual report for the 2022-2023 financial year, the company’s top executive received a total compensation package of $1,156,969, an increase of $120,000 from the previous year.

Anderson, who started working for the Adelaide public broadcaster as a bicycle courier in 1989 and worked at the ABC for 35 years, is entitled to an annual CPI-indexed pension of at least 37 per cent of his final salary, under the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme.

That brings the outgoing ABC boss’s total annual taxpayer-funded pension to almost $430,000 – more than four and a half times the national average income.

However, sources within the ABC have suggested that Anderson may have negotiated an even higher pension package.

Meanwhile, highly regarded former Foxtel and Nine executive Amanda Laing is already seen as the firm favourite to succeed Anderson when he steps down next year.

Anderson was appointed to a second term in 2023, but will step down once a replacement is found.

Louise Milligan challenged The Australian on X

In a message to all ABC employees on Thursday, he said he expected to remain in the role until at least early 2025.

Anderson said he was grateful to new Chairman Williams and the board for their support and efforts to convince him to stay on for a full second term.

“Their unashamed enthusiasm for the company’s interests and future makes this decision easier,” he said.

“I am confident that the timing is right for me and the ABC.”

Williams, a former News Limited CEO who succeeded Ita Buttrose as chairman in March, said the delayed resignation would ensure a smooth transition.