Justin Stevens, the recently departed news director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), will receive a payout exceeding $300,000 following his resignation last month. Stevens, who stepped down from the role effective May 27, will also benefit from six months of gardening leave, despite the immediate nature of his departure.

Stevens, who had led ABC News for just over four years, informed staff of his decision to resign by email, citing unspecified professional and personal reasons. However, the swift announcement by ABC managing director Hugh Marks of Stevens’ external successor the following day has fueled speculation that Stevens’ resignation was encouraged internally rather than entirely voluntary.

During Senate estimates on May 28, Liberal senator Sarah Henderson pressed Marks on whether Stevens had been pushed out or threatened with termination. Marks declined to discuss the specifics of personnel matters, describing such details as inappropriate for public disclosure. The sizeable payout, based on Stevens’ contractual entitlement to six months’ notice, has reinforced views that his exit was part of a negotiated separation.

Stevens’ tenure is the shortest of any ABC news director in recent memory, notably briefer than his predecessors Gaven Morris and Kate Torney, who each served around six years, and John Cameron, who was in the role for over five years. His remuneration had increased sharply in 2025, with his total package rising by $110,000 to $667,900, a move approved by Marks’ predecessor David Anderson.

Marks reportedly began searching for a replacement for Stevens as early as September 2025, just six months into his own term as managing director. Internal candidates such as editorial director Gavin Fang and Americas editor John Lyons were reportedly not considered suitable, leading to recruitment efforts that culminated in the appointment of Simon Robertson, a London-based Australian journalist and Reuters executive editor. Robertson is expected to start in September and is seen as a candidate aligned with Marks’ vision for ABC News, unencumbered by prior affiliations within the public broadcaster.

Marks, who previously led major media and talent organisations including Southern Star Group (now Endemol Shine), RGM Artists, and Nine Network, has emphasized a results-driven approach to his stewardship of ABC, aiming to enhance the broadcaster’s performance and reputation. The departure of Stevens and the appointment of Robertson signal a strategic shift in ABC News leadership under Marks’ tenure.