Leigh Sales reveals Ita Buttrose’s FURIOUS reaction when she left her car in her ABC parking space
Leigh Sales has revealed the infuriating note ABC chairman Ita Buttrose left on her car after stealing her office parking space.
The former 7.30 presenter said she was late for an important interview in 2020 when she pulled her car into the national broadcaster’s car park and discovered it was full.
With no time to waste, Sales decided to park in the spot reserved for Mrs. Buttrose, who then left a very stern note.
Leigh Sales has revealed the infuriating note that ABC chairman Ita Buttrose left on her car after stealing her office parking space
The note Mrs. Buttrose left in Sales’ car now hangs on the wall behind her desk
āPlease DO NOT park in my car space again,ā the letter read, Sales told the Andrew Olle Media Lecture in Sydney on Friday evening.
The veteran journalist told the audience that Ms Buttrose had also attached her business card to the note.
āThere was that famous Ita signature and date. In the top left corner was a business card stapled that said Ita Buttrose AC OBE,ā she said.
Sales later confessed after security was tasked with finding the perpetrator.
The letter has since been framed and now hangs above Sales’ desk.
āI sat with that anecdote for three years, waiting for the perfect moment to tell it publicly, because I knew it was a great story,ā she told the audience.
‘Journos are often accused of bias and I actually agree. Real journalists all share a preference for the cracking story.’
Ms Buttrose, who has been at the helm of the ABC since her appointment as chair in 2019, announced in August that she would be stepping down from her role
Sales, a three-time Walkley Award winner, hosted the ABC’s flagship current affairs programme, 7.30, for more than a decade before stepping down in June last year.
She previously hosted Lateline for three years and was a correspondent for ABC’s Washington for several years after September 11.
She returned to television screens this year and is currently the presenter of Australian Story.
Ms Buttrose, who has been at the helm of the ABC since her appointment as chair in 2019, announced in August that she would be leaving her position.
Her term ends in March 2024.