Great AGM sledges and response to our questions

December 2, 2018

Here are a few of our favourite sledges from AGMs and elsewhere over the past 15 years.

"A healthy democracy must include the licence to offend and you've got that down to a fine art."
- Peter Joseph, GPT chairman, 2009 AGM

“ …in regard to ‘How does this compare to Qantas?', I am probably biased in this statement but I'd say Crown is much more democratic than Qantas. Geoff ran Qantas like an complete autocracy, and we are all very careful about asking questions”
James Packer, Crown AGM, October 28, 2009

" There is just so much to think about when Stephen is telling us stuff. He opens these doors, oh Lord, now I have to think about this too, and we do have to think about it."
- Derek Guille ABC 774 Radio host, October 7, 2009

"So Stephen thanks for both the constructiveness and objectivity, which is rare"
- David Gonski Chairman, ASX Limited 2009 AGM

“Do you set out to be offensive or it is just natural?”
- Kerry Packer, PBL AGM, 2000, when asked if he was losing on his Hoyts investment.

“That's the first time anyone's ever interrupted our AGM – I'll get you later.”
- Gerry Harvey, Harvey Norman AGM, 2001.

“You're free to fire me any time, Mr Mayne”
- Rupert Murdoch, News Corp AGM, 2004, after being asked if he had an employment contract.

“What are you going to bring up next, the assault charge?”
- John Singleton, STW AGM, 2005.

" Mr Mayne, you write a very good fiction story"
- Frank Lowy, Westfield AGM, 2000.

" If there's no conflict, there's no interest."
- Frank Lowy, Westfield AGM, 1999.

"Your questions here are under question because you are here not as a shareholder necessarily, it's because you hold another job and as a shareholder using this opportunity to enhance your own career in journalism."
- Frank Lowy, Westfield AGM, 1999.

"Welcome Back - I've missed you! For last 4 years I've felt rather insulted you've not been here."
- Michael Robinson, Tabcorp Holdings AGM, 2006

"Ah, Mr Mayne. It wouldn't be a Mayne meeting without Stephen Mayne."
– Mark Rayner, Mayne Group AGM, 2002

"I would like to dispute what you just said because it is quite misleading."
- Michael Chaney, NAB chairman, January 2007

"I think your perspective on the issue is not right,"
– Don Mercer, Orica chairman, December 2007, taking issue with comments about remuneration policies.

"Stephen this is not your soapbox, its our ABC...and the ABC is disgraced by your presence"
- Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun columnist, taking issue with my apparent abuse of position on 774 ABC Melbourne.

"I... I ...look, I loathe Stephen Mayne.... he is a disgrace ... he has no discipline."
Former close friend and workmate.

"He has successfully burned almost every bridge he ever built"
- Peter Blunden, former editor-in-chief of Melbourne's Herald Sun

" I wouldn't even cross the street to give him a backhander - or a writ for that matter."
Eddie McGuire, Collingwood Football Club President.

"I've never had so much from people as when it became clear I was suing Stephen Mayne ... 'Good on you. He's a turd.' "
Steve Price, 2UE radio announcer