ABC boss’s ‘utterly offensive’ comments condemned as broadcaster comes back online after strike

<p>Staff urge managing director to retract comments after he describes industrial action as ‘playing games’</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/26/australia-politics-live-penny-wong-iran-united-nations-war-fuel-crisis-cost-of-living-parliament-question-time-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>ABC staff and union representatives have urged the managing director, Hugh Marks, to retract “utterly offensive” comments after he said staff had treated taking industrial action as “a bit of a game”.</p><p>Marks made the comments just hours before the end of the 24-hour strike that saw more than 2,000 staff members walk off the job on Wednesday.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/26/abc-bosss-utterly-offensive-comments-condemned-as-broadcaster-comes-back-online-after-strike">Continue reading...</a>