ABC reporter, 2GB producer, SAS war hero: Journo ‘screamed’ in furious call to Ben Fordham staffer

An ABC journalist being sued for alleged defamation by an Australian special forces soldier has now been accused of verbally abusing a producer for 2GB radio.

Heston Russell, who made headlines when he raised $15,000 for veterans organization Swiss 8 by selling nude photos of himself on OnlyFans, is suing the ABC and two of its investigative reporters over stories published in 2020 and 2021.

On Wednesday, the national broadcaster sensationally drew its final defense in the libel battle against him just two weeks before the case was due to go to court.

Mr Russell claimed that stories from Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson in November 2021 made it appear he was under investigation for shooting an unarmed prisoner.

On Thursday, 2GB’s Ben Fordham criticized the ABC for his stories about Mr Russell, claiming Willacy “called us off the air one morning, shouting about our coverage of this case.”

His bosses told us later that he was under pressure. You can say that again,” Fordham added.

Justin Stevens, ABC’s news director, was reduced to boring managerial language when asked about Willacy’s alleged phone call during a recent Senate Judiciary appearance.

Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said she understood “that it was a pretty tense call, a pretty angry call with a little bit of yelling at this producer.”

“Are you aware of that incident?” she asked Mr. Stevens.

“So, first of all, the chain of events related to the specificity of the email inquiry that came in. I’m happy to follow up and take note of that,” he replied.

“I can say with confidence that 2GB has been extremely interested in Mark Willacy’s journalism, is relentlessly interested and often attacks his journalism and its credibility.”

Fordham used much clearer language to defend 2GB’s coverage of the case.

“The ABC looks silly now,” he said. “They are being beaten in the trial against the former Special Forces Commando.

“It was alleged that Heston and his unit November Platoon had been involved in the execution of an Afghan prisoner.

“Federal court has already ruled that the ABC defamed Heston Russell and it is up to journalists Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson to back up their claims – and it turns out to be a disaster.

So let’s be crystal clear: There have been a total of four attempts by Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson and the ABC to defend their story. All four are now deserted.’

Fordham said the ABC has “raised the white flag” on the case.

“The stories about Heston and November Platoon were based on the testimony of a US Marine who appeared on the ABC under an assumed name,” the radio host explained.

He described how the Marine who went by the name ‘Josh’ said he was in a helicopter in Afghanistan in 2012 when he was called to pick up a team of Australian soldiers.

“They had seven prisoners and Josh says there wasn’t enough room for them all. He then heard – not saw, but heard – a bang over the radio,” Fordham said.

“He assumed Australian soldiers shot a prisoner, and that was the basis of Mark Willacy’s story.”

Mr Heston’s lawyers wanted to know the true identity of ‘Josh’, but the ABC refused.

In a statement, the ABC said the Federal Court’s ruling “resulted in the ABC having to choose between protecting the identity of the source or continuing the defense.”

“Well, that’s complete and utter nonsense,” Fordham said. Because here are the facts: This Marine, Josh, agreed to be interviewed on camera for the ABC.

His face wasn’t blurry, his voice wasn’t changed. The ABC said where and when he was deployed to Afghanistan and what unit he served with.’

Judge Michael Lee also berated the broadcaster on this, saying, “If those responsible for publishing Josh’s photo within the ABC thought there was anything to Josh’s fear of retaliation, they must have assumed his would-be attackers were a somewhat inquisitive and lazy bunch.’

Fordham said the case was becoming “extremely damaging” and “incredibly expensive” for the ABC.

“Legal costs would already be close to $1 million and the taxpayer will foot the bill,” he said.

The host of the 2 GB breakfast alleged that Willacy was trying to get the station to stop covering the Russell case.

“We didn’t, we wouldn’t and we won’t. And in trying to justify their reporting, they made careless mistakes that did even more damage,” he said.

“It was a shock to the ABC. They have now raised the white flag, they have admitted defeat.

“And now the only question is how much the damages to Heston Russell will be.”

In March 2022, the ABC quietly updated and corrected two of the stories on the matter.

Mr Russell is asking the broadcaster to remove the articles and pay heavy damages in addition to court costs.

The case will return to court on Friday.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Willacy and the ABC for comment.