Rightwing columnist Andrew Bolt’s extraordinary claim in radio discussion reveals deep rift within company over how to react to Turnbull’s ascension as PM

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Malcolm Turnbull’s coup against Tony Abbott has “set off a civil war within News Corp”, the media company’s popular columnist Andrew Bolt says.



The rightwing Herald Sun columnist and prolific blogger made the extraordinary comment during a discussion with 2GB presenter Steve Price about how angry he was with The Australian’s editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell.

Bolt: “It’s funny isn’t it Steve? We worried that Malcolm Turnbull – by deposing Tony Abbott – would set off a civil war within the Liberal party. Well what he’s done is set off a civil war within News Corp. Oh what a joke.”

The two powerful News Corp figures, Bolt and Mitchell, disagree on how to react to Turnbull’s ascension. Rightwing commentators Ray Hadley, Alan Jones and Bolt have all been raging against Abbott’s removal. Bolt says the Australian has been too quick to embrace Turnbull.

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“The Australian, a right-of-centre publication which didn’t spare Abbott from attacks, including some plainly wrong, should be slower to now insist others fall in dutifully and loyally behind Turnbull,” Bolt wrote last week.

Mitchell returned fire in the Australian’s Media section on Monday and attempted to differentiate the readers of his broadsheet from those of the Murdoch tabloids.

“Bolt’s audience includes conservative retirees whereas the Australian’s readership is younger, rich, better educated and working in the legal, political or business community,’’ Mitchell said. “These people don’t read the Tele or Bolt.”

Bolt attacked Mitchell’s “ridiculous” claims and said he shouldn’t be attacking Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids that subsidised his paper which he claimed was losing the company $20m a year.

He encouraged 2GB listeners to call in and tell Mitchell that they weren’t all uneducated retirees. Many did, one calling Mitchell a “dope”.

Price was also furious, calling Mitchell “elitist” and a typical member of the “chattering classes”.

“I would also point out to Mr Mitchell his audience is also a lot smaller than ours,” Price said about his radio audience.

Back in August Bolt and Mitchell were again coming to blows and Bolt called Mitchell “weak and contemptible”.

“He called it off a couple of days before Rupert Murdoch came to town,” Bolt said of the earlier feud. “Now that Rupert Murdoch is away, back in America, it seems to be on again.

“And, I just say this is unprofessional behaviour, it really is. And I suspect that people in News Corp must have a look at whether this is worth doing.

“Maybe I’m wrong to continue it, to hit back. But, I’ve only ever hit back. I haven’t initiated it. I have my reputation to defend, that’s all I have.”

“Anyone’s entitled to get into the fray but I just think it’s so stupid slinging mud at rival publications that actually finance your own.”

Still fired up, on Tuesday evening Bolt posted a link to the offending article in the Australian headed “An editor who loses that much money shouldn’t disparage the papers subsidising him”.

You can listen to the whole discussion here.