CBA CEO Matt Comyn and News24 host Laura Jayes relationship, Sydney Swans scandal, and Melbourne events
Consensus Summary
Two major stories dominate the articles. First, the relationship between Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn and News24 broadcaster Laura Jayes was revealed on Wednesday night, sparking questions about potential conflicts of interest and media silence from both organizations. Both sources confirm Comyn has been separated from his wife for some time and that the pair were seen together in Bondi and on holiday. Second, the Sydney Swans face ongoing fallout from a sexual assault allegation involving player Isaac Heeney at a hotel on Monday morning, leading to suspensions of five players on Wednesday and the club hiring crisis PR firm SEC Newgate on Tuesday. The SMH also covers a Liberal Party event on Wednesday evening and ICAC revelations about Chris Rath, while THEAGE details Melbourne’s Million Dollar Lunch event on Friday and the delayed announcement of Brie Larson’s film 'Skeletons' shooting in Victoria.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Matt Comyn and Laura Jayes' relationship was first reported by The Australian Financial Review on Wednesday night
- Matt Comyn has been separated from his wife for 'some time'
- Commonwealth Bank and News Corp Australia refused to comment on the relationship between Matt Comyn and Laura Jayes
- Sydney Swans players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, and James Jordon were suspended on Wednesday for breaches of the club’s behavioural standards
- The Sydney Swans retained SEC Newgate (led by Brian Tyson) to help with media inquiries on Tuesday
- The Sydney Swans scandal involved an allegation of sexual assault by Isaac Heeney at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel in the early hours of Monday morning
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Matt Comyn and Laura Jayes were seen around Bondi and gone on holiday together, per The Australian Financial Review
- SEC Newgate is not expected to work with the Sydney Swans long term
- Kellie Sloane attended the Liberal Party’s Coogee campaign launch at the Intercontinental Hotel on Wednesday evening
- Chris Rath spoke at the Coogee campaign launch alongside Kellie Sloane
- ICAC confirmed this month that Chris Rath helped Jeremy Greenwood and Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet avoid a parliamentary inquiry
- The Million Dollar Lunch event in Melbourne is in its 21st year and raises funds for the Children’s Cancer Foundation
- Brie Larson’s film 'Skeletons' was shot in Victoria, including locations like Nunawading, Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, and Werribee
- The film 'Skeletons' created about 635 jobs and injected over $21.5 million into Victoria’s economy
- Andrew Abdo, former NRL CEO, is the new chief executive of Tennis Australia and will attend the Million Dollar Lunch on Friday
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The SMH states SEC Newgate was brought in on Tuesday, while THEAGE does not mention this detail
- The SMH mentions a photo of a man nodding off at Kellie Sloane’s campaign launch, but THEAGE does not cover this event
- THEAGE notes the Million Dollar Lunch is on Friday, but SMH does not mention this event or date
Source Articles
CBA, News Corp close ranks around ‘new friends’ Matt Comyn and Laura Jayes
Media minders are usually pretty quick to pour cold water on information they consider inaccurate or misleading. So the silence from both companies on Thursday was intriguing.
CBA and News Corp close ranks around new friends Matt Comyn and Laura Jayes
Media minders are usually pretty quick to pour cold water on reporting they consider inaccurate or misleading. So the silence from both companies on Thursday was intriguing.