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About: Jackie “O” Henderson is pressing her Federal Court claim against ARN Media for at least $82.25 million after her KIIS FM contract was terminated in March 2026. Kyle Sandilands settled for $12.09 million; her case remains listed for trial from 12 October.
Jackie “O” Henderson is continuing her Federal Court action against ARN Media and its subsidiary Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, seeking compensation of at least $82.25 million after the termination of her 10-year KIIS FM breakfast contract in March 2026.
ARN confirmed the claim in an ASX announcement on 31 March 2026. Court filings say Henderson and her company, Henderson Media Pty Ltd, allege the termination was adverse action under the Fair Work Act after she sent a complaint letter stating she could no longer work with longtime co-host Kyle Sandilands and raising psychosocial health, safety and bullying concerns tied to conduct on and before 20 February 2026. That morning, an on-air exchange about astrology left Henderson distressed; she left the studio and did not return to the show.
ARN terminated her services agreement on 3 March 2026. In its market statement the company said she had given notice she could not continue with Sandilands and that the breakfast program would come off air. Henderson’s statement of claim says the complaint letter was an exercise of workplace rights and that ending the deal because of that complaint breached section 340 of the Fair Work Act. She also alleges repudiation of the broadcast services agreement and says ARN’s 3 March ASX announcement contained misleading or deceptive statements under the Australian Consumer Law.
The pair had signed among the richest deals in Australian commercial radio late in 2023 — reported as about $100 million each over 10 years. Henderson’s claim seeks the unpaid balance of her fees, described in filings as at least $82.25 million, plus a pecuniary penalty, interest and costs. She later amended the claim to add a $3 million limited-recourse share loan: her lawyers say CBC agreed to fund ordinary ARN shares for Henderson Media, and that on 29 April 2026 the ARN board declared a “bad leaver” event and sold the shares to recover the loan without setting out the basis for that finding.
Sandilands brought a parallel claim. On 17 June 2026 ARN announced a binding settlement of $12.09 million, with $3 million due in July 2026 and the rest in monthly instalments to June 2029, plus $1.5 million in advertising support for his next project and a revenue-share of up to 19.9 per cent for three years. He is restricted from working for ARN’s direct competitors until March 2027. ARN dropped its cross-claim after that deal.
Henderson did not settle. At a case management hearing the day after the Sandilands announcement, barrister Vanja Bulut told the Federal Court in Sydney the October trial date should stand. Agent Gemma O’Neill attended; Henderson was not required to appear. Justice Angus Stewart later allowed ARN to use affidavits affirmed by Sandilands and his manager Bruno Bouchet in Henderson’s proceeding.
ARN’s amended defence argues Henderson repudiated the breakfast agreement herself by refusing to work with Sandilands and seeking another timeslot on the same $10 million-a-year fee. The network says the termination was valid and that her bullying complaint was not made in line with workplace law. It disputes every head of damage and says it cannot yet estimate any financial impact.
In late September 2026 Henderson’s lawyers sought texts, emails and WhatsApp messages from ARN directors, chief executive Michael Stephenson, chief people officer Ros Reeves, chief legal officer Jeremy Child and Sandilands, including a 11 September 2025 complaint she says was not properly addressed. They also deny that newsreader Brooklyn Ross intervened in the February on-air argument. The trial is listed from 12 October 2026 for about 10 to 12 days.
ARN’s half-year results in August 2026 put legal costs linked to both hosts at more than $17 million so far, including the Sandilands settlement, as revenue fell and the company posted a $28.3 million loss. The court has not decided whether Henderson was wrongfully terminated or whether she walked away from the contract. Those questions remain for trial. Coverage of the filings and hearings continues at https://fashiontalktoday.com/ as the Sydney case proceeds.
The claims and the defence are allegations before the Federal Court. They have not been independently determined.
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