An unusual sequence of emails from James Packer to some of Nine’s most senior executives has been made public, with the billionaire criticizing former federal treasurer Peter Costello and a leading editor.
In June and July of this year, Packer sent a series of incendiary emails to a number of Nine Entertainment Co. executives, including chairman Mr. Costello, Nine’s newspaper head James Chessell, Today Show anchor Karl Stefanovic, writer Peter FitzSimons, and The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson. In the communications, Packer, the former executive chair of Crown Resorts, said that he was ‘ashamed’ of the ‘terrible things that transpired at Crown under my watch’ that were highlighted in a 60 Minutes segment. Mr. Chessell, a veteran foreign journalist who heads The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers, really enraged him.
Packer also took aim at Mr. Costello, stating that he had worked for him in 2011, prompting Nine to clarify what his true job was.
In 2011, Packer claimed to have paid Costello $300,000 to work as his “hidden Crown lobbyist.”
In emails reviewed by The Australian, Packer said to the Nine chairman, “Your job was to bring me closer to (then Victorian gambling minister) Michael O’Brien.”
This was promptly contradicted by a Nine spokesperson, who said that the former federal treasurer and business CEO was just an advisor to one of Mr. Packer’s private investment firms, Consolidated Press Holdings, for one year, and was not a Packer lobbyist.
Mr. O’Brien said that Mr. Costello “has never lobbied me on behalf of Crown or any other firm.”
In another email, Packer lashed out at Mr. Chessell, saying that he had “nothing but hatred” for the journalist and lacked confidence in him.
In a memo to workers on Monday, Mr. Chessell stated that he had been inundated with emails from the wealthy businessman in response to the investigative article ‘Crown Unmasked’.
The six-month investigation conducted jointly by 60 Minutes, The Age, and The Sydney Morning Herald revealed the inner workings of Crown. It was discovered that Crown had created illicit contacts with criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and had used its influence to expedite the visa application process for Chinese high rollers.
Mr. Chessell told Nine employees, ‘I really hope he (Packer) makes peace with Crown Unmasked, and I wish him the best.
Since late June, when Packer took issue with something we published, I’ve gotten a deluge of letters from him. After attempting to communicate with him first – which was obviously unsuccessful – I have disregarded practically all of it.
As Executive Editor, I fully supported Crown Unmasked, advocated for it to be a co-production with 60 Minutes, and supported our vigorous defense of those pieces when Crown mounted a (failed) PR effort (financed by News Corp) to discredit us.
In another email, Packer lauded Nick McKenzie, an investigative journalist at The Age, for his work on Crown Unmasked.
Mr. Packer added, “For the record, Crown unmasked was a terrific tale.”
I will always feel embarrassed that some of the negative events at Crown occurred under my watch.
Nick McKenzie understood much more than I did about what was really occurring at Crown.
Due to charges of money laundering, Crown has been the subject of three royal commission-style examinations.
In a June transaction, Mr. Packer sold Crown to private investment firm Blackstone for $8.9 billion, pocketing $3.3 billion in the process.
He is now preparing for his return to Australia in March 2020, which will be his first visit since January 2020.
The father of three previously said to The Weekend Australian that he is eager to begin his ‘third act’ and that he intends to ease back into public life in Australia.
Daily Mail Australia contacted a representative of Mr. Packer for comment.
