Following the latest allegations in Adelaide’s Advertiser about morning presenter Leon Byner, FIVEaa management has suspended him pending further enquiries.

The station’s General Manager, Paul Bartlett told radioinfo: “FIVEaa has a very strict and long established compliance policy governing arrangements between our on-air announcers and sponsors. We treat compliance with our policy very seriously.

“All on-air presenters are required to comply with this policy as a term of their employment.

“FIVEaa as a result has undertaken a preliminary internal review of the events recently reported in the press concerning its on-air presenter, Leon Byner. Following that review, we have decided that the most appropriate course of action is to suspend Leon Byner from his on-air announcing role until we have completed a comprehensive internal review, and the matter has been considered by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

The station will “fully and expeditiously” complete a “comprehensive internal review” and will assist the ABA with its enquiries.

In another story in Sunday’s Advertiser the newspaper alleged that there was another PR Advice deal that has so far not been revealed. The Advertiser’s story said:

“ETSA Utilities confirmed… it had employed [Byner] to provide media advice to its senior managers and customer relations staff.

Byner was recruited by ETSA Utilities through his business, Bilote Pty Ltd, to inform staff of any negative public sentiment about ETSA so they could develop alternative strategies.”

Paul Makin is filling in on Byner’s shift while he is suspended. Byner is not making further comment on the matter because of a confidentiality agreement.

The issue is expected to be raised at this week’s Adelaide Council meeting.