Our favourite AGM audio exchanges


June 3, 2009

Below is a package of favourite AGM highlights since we launched The Mayne Report in 2007. They are largely snappy 2-3 minute affairs and well worth a listen.

Toll Holdings 2008
Skewering chairman Ray Horsburgh over the $55 million executive rip off

Opposing Ray Horsburgh's re-election for failing to try and recover some cash back from the executives

Macquarie Group 2008
Go ahead and make our day by selling Sydney Airport for $12 billion

Why is a banker owning a bank magazine?

Why is it taking so long to get Peter Costello on the board?

Westfield 2008
Got a margin loan, Mr Lowy?

Take a hair cut on the salary, Frank

How old is the candidate, Mr Hilmer, and is he going to serve a full term?

Macquarie Airports 2008
Question about their performance fee

Why hide in dodgy Bermuda?

Tabcorp 2008
Political environment, banning children and responsible gaming practices

Macquarie Media 2008
Ding dong battle with Max the Axe over appalling governance structure

Babcock & Brown Infrastructure 2008
Opening salvo on all these outrageous fees being gouged by Babcock & Brown as BBI shareholders lose billions.

Explain this 10% fee on the US deal and why didn't we stop borrowing and buying in 2007-08?

Rallying the shareholders to vote down the remuneration report from the floor.



Consolidated Media Holdings 2008
Has any director read Who killed Channel Nine? Plus, will James Packer buy back Channel Nine?

The James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch saga

Why no protest against John Alexander like at Crown?

Crown 2008

Strength of our balance sheet, plus James Packer's stake is debt free

Wow, that's a huge protest vote against John Alexander

Big round of applause to James Packer for working for free

ASX 2008
Opening battle over supervisory failures as chairman tries to delay debate

Campaign speech complete with shareholder heckling

Michael Sharpe explains how his poor health at Babcock is fine at ASX

Nailing Maurice Newman for blaming the press and jousting with Eric Mayne over Babcock disclosures

Asciano 2008
If the shares are so cheap, why isn't the CEO buying and how much does he owe on the 10% stake?

Can we have a conventional meeting?

Big spray at lack of board accountability after various debacles and explain the Poole-Rowsthorn relationship

Why proceed with these unpopular options when the CEO already owns 10% of the company?


Zinifex EGM on Oxiana merger
Politely telling over-committed Zinifex chairman Peter Mansell to retire at the Oxiana merger EGM

Eulogy to Zinifex and sledging Andrew Michelmore for claiming "two plus two equals five"


Babcock & Brown 2008
Attempt to nail director Joe Raby with resurrection of Alan Bond - slapped down by Nosworthy
The model we are running is actually broken

Austar 2008
Where is our Labor mate for pay-TV lobbying

Rio Tinto 2008 AGM
Why isn't Rio Tinto headquartered in Australia?
Why is the chairman paid so much?
Vote against Rio chairman Paul Skinner

Alumina 2008
Campaign speech for a board seat

WA News 2008 EGM

Campaign speech and bunfight with Kerry Stokes over editorial independence
Listen to Kerry Stokes' 15-minute campaign speech

Oxiana 2008 AGM
Eulogy to Owen Hegarty and Australia's woeful mining record
Why Owen Hegarty should stay as CEO

AXA 2008 AGM
Why Paul "Centro" Cooper should quit Axa board
Time for chairman Rick Allert to retire

MFS 2008 EGM
The real reason why the share price tanked

AWB 2008
Why things need to change

Timbercorp 2008
Asking the CEO and chairman about margin calls

Skilled Engineering 2008
Railing against the failure to have a share purchase plan

Orica 2007
Why did you clowns sell Incitec Pivot on the cheap?

Incitec Pivot 2007
Calling for Centro chairman Brian Healey to be sacked

Coles 2007
Bagging Coles CEO John Fletcher at Wesfarmers takeover meeting

News Corp 2007 - Adelaide
Getting an apology from Rupert Murdoch for Glenn Milne assault

Macquarie Radio 2007
Taking responsibility for Alan Jones inciting the Cronulla riot

Macquarie Radio 2007
What happens to Alan Jones if there's a change of government

Macquarie Radio 2007
The Parrot's Mark Carnegie conflict over Qantas

News Corp 2007 - New York
Jousting with Rupert Murdoch over my shareholder resolution
Has Rupert ever been elected as a director?

Macquarie Bank 2007
Auditor plus auditor response, remuneration report
Question for auditor about conflicts of interest

Perpetual 2007
Ripping into Perpetual over Gunns shareholding

Woolworths 2007
Get out of the grubby pokies business

Amalgamated Holdings 2008 AGM
Time for boardroom renewal and what is former James Hardie chair Meredith Hellicar still doing here?

AMCIL
2008 AGM
Why is Stan Wallis on this board when he blew more than $5 billion at AMP?

Boral 2008 AGM
It's time to go, Mr chairman

Reece 2008 AGM
Why is there no regular governance structure?
Big debate around governance on election of new director
Lively remuneration report debate

AFIC 2008 AGM
My proxy is shut down by chairman Bruce Teele before asking whether it is appropiate to have Stan Wallis on the board.

Pacific Brands 2008 EGM
Who are our big five banks? Is it fair to say we paid too much for Yakka?
Why hasn't the CEO ever been elected?

Allco 2007 AGM
Opening exchange on conflicts of interest and related party transactions

WA News 2007
Alan Carpenter comments on WA News AGM

Gunns 2007
AGM aborted prematurely, extraordinary stuff

Australian Foundation Investment Company 2007 AGM
Does Don Argus not believe in the resources boom?