What I've been up to lately
By Stephen Mayne
January 7, 2009
2008 year ender and favourite AGM audio: check out our comprehensive 2008 year in review. Plus listen to this package of favourite AGM audio exchanges since we launched in 2007 and check out our record breaking 2008 for AGM attendances.
Tuesday, Dec 30: interview with Michael Peshard on 702 ABC Sydney about financial crisis and the year in review.
Monday, Dec 29: discussed the year in news from 10-11pm with Rod Quinn on ABC local radio's national Nightlife program.
Tuesday, Dec 23: special Mayne Report edition revealing Australia's most inaccurrate balance sheets.
Sunday, Dec 21: participated in Radio National's program The National Interest, reviewing the year. Have a listen.
Friday, Dec 19: Mayne Report edition and Crikey story on dud directors.
Thursday, Dec 18: interview with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney about ComBank's capital raising botch-up. Last big day for AGMs with Ten Network in Sydney, ANZ in Brisbane and NAB in Melbourne. Reviewed the year on ABC television midday news.
Wednesday, Dec 17: Mayne Report edition on CBA blunder, ABC Learning chairman and ASIC jail list. Listen to interview on 936 ABC Hobart about world's biggest pyramid fraud scam. Crikey story previewing Collingwood AGM then attended Eddie McGuire's extravaganza at the MCG.
Friday, Dec 19: Mayne Report edition and Crikey story on dud directors.
Thursday, Dec 18: interview with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney about ComBank's capital raising botch-up. Last big day for AGMs with Ten Network in Sydney, ANZ in Brisbane and NAB in Melbourne. Reviewed the year on ABC television midday news.
Wednesday, Dec 17: Mayne Report edition on CBA blunder, ABC Learning chairman and ASIC jail list. Listen to interview on 936 ABC Hobart about world's biggest pyramid fraud scam. Crikey story previewing Collingwood AGM then attended Eddie McGuire's extravaganza at the MCG.
Tuesday, Dec 16: Listen to regular chat with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney about Telstra shares plunge, federal government debt, etc. Watch SBS interview on Madoff scandal and listen to 774 ABC Melbourne discussing the extraordinary Ponzi scheme. Check out the press package on Bernard Madoff's alleged $US50 billion scam.
Monday, Dec 15: subscriber edition on CBA's Centro obstinancy, plus video package from final Business View program for 2009 on Sky News Business. Crikey story on Centro, plus listen to interview on The World Today on extraordinary US Ponzi scheme fraud.
Saturday: interview on 2UE morning program about outrageous executive payouts.
Friday: appeared on Sky's final Business View program for the year. A brief chat with Mike Smith of 4BC Brisbane and 20-minute discussion on ABC 774 Drive program with Libby Gore about the Rudd infrastructure injection, financial disasters in 2008 and the dwindling China boom. Crikey story on Combank's ruthless approach to Centro rollover proposal.
Thursday: listen to interview on 6PR breakfast show about Rio Tinto's slash and burn announcement. Attended strategic issues councillor briefing and separate meeting on recreation facilities in Manningham.
Wednesday: Mayne Report edition on ABC Learning, Centro, Manningham, Pacific Brands and share trading. Manningham Council committee meeting on Aquarena facility. Attended RACV President's dinner.
Tuesday: attended Australian Local Government Association conference on constitutional reform and formally sworn in as Manningham councillor. Watch video. Appeared on The 7.30 Report in Greg Hoy's story about CEO pay rorts.
Monday: meeting of councillors to determine Manningham mayor and deputy mayor for the next year. Charles Pick is mayor and Fred Chuah deputy mayor.
Sunday: Mayne report edition on CEO payouts, Nufarm AGM, Manningham mayoral process and Gunns campaign.
Friday: speech to local government finance professionals and Crikey article about pokies moguls plotting the future of Fairfax.
Thursday: attended Nufarm AGM and scolded Telstra chairman Donald McGauchie about AGM processes.
Wednesday: Mayne Report edition on dud directors, corporate governance, share sales and Manningham Council. Interview with ABC Tasmania's Tim Cox on Qantas merger deal.
Tuesday: Listen to regular chat with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney about the state of the economy, interest rate cuts, executive pay and the failed BHP-Rio merger. Listen to regular chat with Libby Gore on Drive 774 ABC Melbourne discussing the Manningham election, interest rates and other business of the day.
Monday: elected to Manningham Council in Heide ward. Read this edition announcing the news. Listen to interview on 774 ABC Melbourne. Read coverage in Manningham Leader. Listen to discussion about the council election and some business yarns with Mike Smith on 4BC Brisbane.
Friday: attended Centro Properties Group AGM then sent out subscriber edition.
Thursday: attended Centro Retail and BHP Billiton AGMs as board candidate with subscriber edition at 6pm.
BHP Billiton victory: The Big Australian has abandoned its bid for Rio Tinto, vindicating our board campaign. Read today's special edition revealing how $7 billion worth of proxies backed our board tilt. Listen to interview with Steve Chase on ABC News Radio, interview with 6PR's breakfast team, plus interview with 702 ABC Sydney Richard Glover.
Wednesday: sent out two editions, including the second which covered REA Group AGM, analyst sackings, Rio-BHP, Centro Retail and a RiskMetrics report on CEO payouts.
Tuesday: check out new video on Woolies and the pokies. Listen to discussion about executive pay with Fran Kelly on Radio National Breakfast. Attended RACV AGM and lunch for life members.
Monday: listen to special appearance on RRR about 2008 AGM season. Subscriber edition on pokies, Babcock, Rich List and executive pay.
Sunday: helped The Sunday Telegraph with this double page spread on sinking billionaires.
Friday: special edition after attending farcical Telstra AGM. Also, listen to 1116 4BC Brisbane talking with Mike Smith about Brisconnections fiasco.
Thursday: All Ords now down 50% so special edition on financial crisis, plus coverage of yesterday's AGMs.
Wednesday: Melbourne Press Club breakfast debate with Lord Mayoral candidates, then attended AGMs of AED Oil, IOOF and Tatt's Group.
Tuesday: edition from Brisbane Airport after Macquarie profit result and then second edition after getting onto ABC Learning creditors' committee. Radio interviews on 4BC and 774 ABC Melbourne.
Monday: subscriber edition ahead of tomorrow's ABC Learning creditors meeting in Brisbane and Macquarie profit result.
BHP Billiton victory: The Big Australian has abandoned its bid for Rio Tinto, vindicating our board campaign. Read today's special edition revealing how $7 billion worth of proxies backed our board tilt. Listen to interview with Steve Chase on ABC News Radio, interview with 6PR's breakfast team, plus interview with 702 ABC Sydney Richard Glover.
Wednesday: sent out two editions, including the second which covered REA Group AGM, analyst sackings, Rio-BHP, Centro Retail and a RiskMetrics report on CEO payouts.
Tuesday: check out new video on Woolies and the pokies. Listen to discussion about executive pay with Fran Kelly on Radio National Breakfast. Attended RACV AGM and lunch for life members.
Monday: listen to special appearance on RRR about 2008 AGM season. Subscriber edition on pokies, Babcock, Rich List and executive pay.
Sunday: helped The Sunday Telegraph with this double page spread on sinking billionaires.
Friday: special edition after attending farcical Telstra AGM. Also, listen to 1116 4BC Brisbane talking with Mike Smith about Brisconnections fiasco.
Thursday: All Ords now down 50% so special edition on financial crisis, plus coverage of yesterday's AGMs.
Wednesday: Melbourne Press Club breakfast debate with Lord Mayoral candidates, then attended AGMs of AED Oil, IOOF and Tatt's Group.
Tuesday: edition from Brisbane Airport after Macquarie profit result and then second edition after getting onto ABC Learning creditors' committee. Radio interviews on 4BC and 774 ABC Melbourne.
Monday: subscriber edition ahead of tomorrow's ABC Learning creditors meeting in Brisbane and Macquarie profit result.
Saturday: watch edited highlights from Sky Business View appearance about CBA's ABC Learning debacle, Sir Rod Eddington and the future of Macquarie.
Friday: speech to 50 debt collectors from the ATO and then attended Slater & Gordon AGM before appearing on Business View on Sky News Business.
Thursday: Listen to special appearance on 774 ABC Melbourne Drive with Hilary Harper discussing the CBA's $450 million loss on ABC Learning, at today's AGM. Subscriber edition about Combank and Fairfax AGMs. Spoke at Victorian Cigar Society dinner.
Wednesday: cracking edition on ANZ's board room shake-up, BHP, Telstra and Kerry Stokes.
Tuesday: subscriber edition after Computershare AGM. Listen to regular spot on 702 ABC Sydney with Deborah Cameron. Listen to regular spot on 774 ABC Melbourne with Lindy Burns on Drive.
Monday: Extraordinary Seven Network AGM in Sydney with billionaire Kerry Stokes calling in security to end questions and comments. Appeared on ABC TV's Talking Heads program at 6.30pm and listen to interview with Mike Smith on 4BC in Brisbane.
Friday: subscriber edition with full edited audio after attended fiery Babcock & Brown Power AGM in Sydney.
Thursday: subscriber edition after another round with James Packer at Seek AGM.
Wednesday: attended two Sydney AGMs with subscriber editions after both Allco Equity Partners and Babcock & Brown Infrastructure gatherings.
Tuesday: listen to regular chat with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney. Special edition after Platinum Asset Management AGM and meeting with Babcock & Brown Power's independent chairman Len Gill in Sydney.
Monday: check out updated list on biggest protest votes against remuneration reports.
Friday: subscriber edition about Gunns, Toll, ConnectEast AGM and the friendly words with Jeff Kennett at Equity Trustees AGM.
Thursday: Special edition with words, video and audio after extraordinary Toll Holdings AGM, plus investor speech at Sofitel. Listen to 936 ABC Hobart with Louise Saunders about Gunns before its AGM in Launceston.
Friday: subscriber edition about Gunns, Toll, ConnectEast AGM and the friendly words with Jeff Kennett at Equity Trustees AGM.
Thursday: Special edition with words, video and audio after extraordinary Toll Holdings AGM, plus investor speech at Sofitel. Listen to 936 ABC Hobart with Louise Saunders about Gunns before its AGM in Launceston.
Wednesday: subscriber update after cracking Macquarie Media AGM taking on combative chairman Max Moore-Wilton. Listen to director Tony Bell explain why he owns no Mac Media shares.
Tuesday: special Mayne Report subscriber edition after historic vote against chairman at Transurban edition. Two additional email updates after Crown and CMH meetings with James Packer. Also, listen to regular spot on 774 ABC Melbourne with Lindy Burns.
Monday: big morning edition on PBL Media and market chaos, plus afternoon edition on exchange with Carl Icahn, Boral and forthcoming Transurban AGM.
Friday: attended Amalgamated Holdings, Boral, EBI and Energy World shareholder meetings in Sydney, then brief update for subscribers.
Thursday: listen to audio of AWB chairman Brendan Stewart breaking down at the end of yesterday's EGM. Subscriber edition.
Wednesday: two Mayne Report editions - one in the morning on Macquarie disclosure backflip and big edition in the afternoon covering dramatic Asciano and AWB shareholder meetings where one chairman cried and another got his CEO to hand back a $750,000 bonus.
Tuesday: Listen to regular spot on Drive 774 ABC with Lindy Burns.
Monday: special subscriber edition after News Corp AGM in New York attended by a proxy armed with our questions. Crikey story defending Turnbull's "merchant banker" record, plus second Mayne Report edition on Rupert, Macquarie's Italian loss, Babcock restructure and our Rich List.
Monday: special subscriber edition after News Corp AGM in New York attended by a proxy armed with our questions. Crikey story defending Turnbull's "merchant banker" record, plus second Mayne Report edition on Rupert, Macquarie's Italian loss, Babcock restructure and our Rich List.
Thursday: two Crikey stories on credit crisis, plus Mayne Report update from Canberra airport and attended Prime Minister's science awards in The Great Hall at Parliament House.
Wednesday: Crikey story on $10 billion spending spree and subscriber edition after fronting ANZ chairman Charles Goode at the Australian United Investment Company AGM. Listen to Mike Smith's editorial and interview on Rudd spending spree with Mike Smith on 4BC.
Tuesday: regular chat with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney, lively segment with Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne and lunch time speech to lawyers from Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Monday: interview on 2UE with John Stanley about Australian share market bounce and Crikey story on commentariat response to government bank guarantee.
Sunday: special email edition on Kevin Rudd's bank guarantee plan.
Saturday: interview on 702 ABC Sydney about global financial crisis.
Friday: two Crikey stories on crisis, interview on Newsradio, Mayne Report edition. Chat with Richard Glover on 702 ABC Sydney and listen to chat with Michael Smith on 1116 4BC Brisbane.
Thursday: Crikey story on buying opportunities and big portfolio losses.
Wednesday: Crikey story on ComBank power and Mayne Report edition on crisis, share buying, woolies tilt and Rich List.
Tuesday: discussion with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney about global credit crisis. Listen to regular chat on drive 774 with Libby Gore discussing the market falls, interest rate falls and honeymoon rates. Chatting with Michael Smith on 1116 4BC in Brisbane, via mobile from an RACV president's dinner, discussing interest rates and debt.
Monday: edition on Woolies and Centro tilts, plus AGM season and buying opportunities.
Friday: big Mayne Report edition with 10 stories covering AFIC, ASX, Lehman, share dealings, Rich List, ASIC jailing and much more.
Thursday: Crikey story on Keating's credit crunch analysis.
Wednesday: Crikey story on credit crunch and interview on global credit crisis with Mike Jefffreys on 2CC in Canberra.
Wednesday: Crikey story on credit crunch and interview on global credit crisis with Mike Jefffreys on 2CC in Canberra.
Tuesday: Listen to regular chat on 774 ABC Melbourne with guest presenter Libby Gore. Topics include ABC Learning and global financial crisis.
Friday: subscriber edition on BHP tilt, Woolies pokies push, ASX fallout plus AFIC AGM plans.
Thursday: Mayne Report update on ASX AGM.
Wednesday: ran for ASX board. Check out Terry McCrann's coverage.
Tuesday: listen to regular ABC Melbourne chat with Lindy Burns, plus Andrew Main attack on 702 ABC Sydney and Crikey story on ASX board tilt.
Monday: listen to this discussion about $US1 trillion dollar bail-out with Richard Glover on 702 ABC Sydney.
Macquarie shorting special
*Two Friday Mayne Report editions on Macquarie vs The Australian saga.
* Crikey story on the same issue plus listen to discussion about The Australian's coverage with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney.
* Also, listen to this discussion with Mike Smith on 4BC.
Thursday: Crikey story on Macquarie vs Murdoch and Mayne Report edition on new Risk Metrics report.
Wednesday: special edition on activist funds - plus Macquarie rumours and Fortescue's late profit.
Tuesday: special morning edition on global financial meltdown, plus second edition on WA News board coup. Listen to discussion about Malcolm Turnbull with Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne and listen to chat on financial crisis with Michael Smith of 1116 4BC Brisbane.
Monday: listen to BBC 5 Live interview on Lehman, plus subscriber edition on ASX, executive payouts, James Packer cynicism and updated Rich List. Also, listen to regular chat with Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne.
ASX board tilt - check out the newly updated full website package.
Friday: ASX update looking at Trevor Rowe's PR offensive with the KGB.
Thursday: big edition analysing all the ins and out of ASX tilt after the Risk Metrics attack on ASX director Russell Aboud.
Wednesday: special edition after Seven Network EGM and Risk Metrics bombshell on ASX board.
Tuesday: listen to regular ABC Sydney chat with Deborah Cameron and listen to regular chat with Lindy Burns on ABC Melbourne.
Monday: two editions covering AWB board, Origin, Macquarie, Aristocrat, Jerry Ellis and Brian Healey.
Sunday: special edition on how WA election result could scupper BHP's takeover bid for Rio Tinto.
Friday: Incitec Pivot EGM and edition covering Gunns, Fairfax and WA News.
Thursday: Crikey stories on ASX tilt and Murdoch profile in Vanity Fair, plus Mayne Report update on AWB, Babcock and ASX tilt.
Wednesday: special edition after reconvened AWB EGM.
Tuesday: special ASX tilt edition, Crikey story on Woolies, plus listen to regular ABC Melbourne chat with Lindy Burns.
A record 30 losses of more than $100m in 2007-08 - read full list.
* Read Tuesday's Crikey story on the Woolies profit.
* Listen to interview on 4BC Brisbane with Mike Smith.
* Check out www.pokiewatch.org which lays bare the shameless Woolies approach.
* Listen to pokies billionaire Bruce Mathieson call me a liar on 3AW in 1997.
* Listen to discussion of Woolworths profit on ABC Sydney with Deborah Cameron and ABC Melbourne interview with Lindy Burns.
* Read Nick Xenophon's extraordinary speech to Woolies and the other pokies players last Sunday.
Watch the combative AWB EGM videos
Two videos in favour of reform: opening spray against dissident directors and my final plea for gang of four to change their minds
The against case: Jock Munro's rant and Bob Iffla's erroneous News Corp argument followed by chairman's slap down.
Listen to debate with American skeptic Michael Shermer on Radio National's All In The Mind program.
Gunns chat: radio interview on 936 ABC Hobart with Tim Cox about Gunns.
Mayne Report subscriber edition on Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo's pay, record CommBank profit and CSL's bold blood move. Listen to interviews about Telstra with Mike Smith on 4BC and John Stanley on 2UE.
Friday: Mayne report edition on Commander collapse, ASX conflicts, Seven EGM and activist funds.
Thursday: updated biggest corporate losses list, Crikey story on Rudd cronyism and listen to interview on foreign debt with 4BC's Mike Smith in Brisbane.
Wednesday: new video on shareholder showbags, two Crikey stories plus Mayne Report edition on WA News, News Corp and Brian Healey.
Tuesday: two Crikey stories plus Mayne Report edition on Seven result and ABC radio discussion at 5.40pm.
Monday: Crikey story on continuous disclosure plus Mayne Report edition on Asciano private equity bid and ANZ board tilt.
Saturday: appeared on Sky's Business View program.
Friday: attended Hartnell Colloquium at ANU on corporate law reform, plus one Crikey story on BrisConnections float fiasco.
Thursday: Special Mayne Report subscriber edition on the Brisconnections float fiasco. Listen to interview on ABC NewsRadio about NAB's fired CEO. Two Crikey stories on NAB changes and evening speech to Swinburne students on corporate governance.
Wednesday: Speech to Australian Investors Association conference on the Gold Coast. Subscribe to the Mayne Report podcast to view the full Sunday program episode and other Mayne Report videos. Subscriber edition on BHP tilt, ASX conflicts, Rupert buy and recent trading.
Tuesday: listen to regular chat with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney about tumbling bank shares, Qantas and NSW state budget. Listen to regular chat with Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne about market turmoil, Qantas and Starbucks.
Monday: special Mayne Report edition on Australand's emergency $550 capital raising, Crikey stories on Qantas and bank write-downs, plus interview on 4BC about the tumbling bank shares.
Friday: subscriber edition on OZ Minerals, board tilt, Stokes raid, more Macquarie videos and some. Speech to McPherson Media management retreat.
Thursday: cracking new video on the Macquarie Model and the dead parrot sketch.
Wednesday: subscriber edition after a cracking debate at the Macquarie Group AGM.
Tuesday: listen to regular chat with Lindy Burns on ABC 774 about QANTAS and Frank Lowy
Monday: hard-hitting video on outrageous spin record of Oxiana chairman Barry Cusack.
Friday: special edition on the rolling of Owen Hegarty's $10.7m Oxiana payout.
Thursday: subscriber edition after Village Roadshow EGM and SP Ausnet AGM.
Wednesday: subscriber edition on Qantas, SP Ausnet, activist funds, Rich List and ANZ outsourcing. Plus Crikey story on state finance disclosures.
Tuesday: special Glenn Milne video, plus listen to latest chats on 702 ABC Sydney with Toni Matthews and on 774 ABC Melbourne with Lindy Burns about the global credit crisis.
Monday: two Crikey stories on AWB constitutional reform and Toll's Virgin Blue giveaway.
Thursday: new video on GPT fiasco plus special edition on the hunt for new directors.
Wednesday: six stories in subscriber edition plus updated lists tracking biggest share tanks and new CEOs who slash asset values.
Tuesday: 4BC with Michael Smith about our relationship with China from economic and ownership perspective. Weekly chat on 774 ABC Melbourne with Bev O'Connor.
Monday: two Crikey stories plus a four-story subscriber edition of The Mayne Report and this new video on Kevin Rudd and climate change.
Background Briefing: listen to the first serious media feature on shareholder activism.
ABC Radio spots: listen to last chats with Deborah Cameron on 702 ABC Sydney and Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne.
Time to go: Listen to polite retirement advice for Australia's busiest director Peter Mansell at Zinifex-Oxiana merger EGM.
Lateline Business: appeared talking about Babcock troubles.
Babcock: check out special package on the Babcock troubles and watch Phil Green's body language in this video on Babcock & Brown crisis.
ABC Learning: hard-hitting Crikey Story calling for ABC Learning to be nationalised.
Industry funds: video interview with Gary Weaven, father of the all-powerful industry funds.
Foreign ownership: updated foreign-owned mines lists after Queesland coal royalty slug and listen to 774 ABC Melbourne chat with Lindy Burns.
Babcock & Brown AGM: Listen to the Babcock & Brown AGM audio files.
Mayne Report Rich List: new video on BRW Rich List plus our own Mayne Report Rich List.
Macquarie Airports AGM - listen to these exchanges with chairman Max Moore-Wilton.
MFS EGM debacle: subscriber-only account of lively MFS EGM. Watch MFS video. Listen to this spray after CEO Craig White tried to blame market analysts.
Alan Jones spray: packaged up audio spraying Alan Jones at Macquarie Radio AGM last year. It's a beauty.
ABC Learning implosion: Listen to hard-hitting analysis on ABC Sydney , ABC Melbourne and Lateline.
Allco Finance Group unravels: See Crikey report, listen to interview on 702 ABC Melbourne and see Rod Eddington spray.
Australia's woeful foreign ownership record
The Chinese raid on Rio Tinto has sparked strong debate so we've seriously cranked up our foreign ownership lists: 50 foreign owned resources projects, big foreign investors, Aussie companies doing well overseas and foreign government investment in Australia. Also, listen to 702 ABC Sydney.
Hot News Corp documents
We've got some hot court documents exposing Rupert Murdoch's colourful business practices.
Macquarie Fortress
Macquarie gets an absolute shellacking over the $220 million Fortress debacle.