A lawyer has revealed what could happen next for Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, after Sandilands was axed from ARN.
The shock jock, 54, said in a statement this morning that he doesn’t “accept” the decision and will be fighting his termination with his lawyers.
Lawyer Nick Duggal, whose expertise includes termination of employment and workplace relations, says the matter could be resolved without the need to go to court – but if it was to go down that avenue, it would likely happen within “nine to 12 months”
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While the exact terms of Sandilands’ contract with ARN are unknown and private, Duggal, a Partner at Moray & Agnew Lawyers, says “judging from what is known and what [Sandilands] is saying, there does appear to be a case to be had”.
“The parties will have every opportunity to commercially resolve the claim,” he tells nine.com.au.
“The court will encourage them to do that. There’ll be facilitated discussions like mediations.
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“So the parties will weigh up whether it’s worth fighting for this, or what a reasonable compromise is, but we are talking about large sums of money.”
If the matter was to head to court, it could be within the next “nine to 12 months, possibly longer”, Duggal suggests.
“So there’s going to be a lot of water under the bridge in the meantime,” he continues.
“It would be interesting to look at, before it gets to court, if that’s where it’s destined to go, what’s going to happen to the value of ARN?
“What are going to be Kyle’s alternative media endeavours, if he’s permitted to do that?
“What’s going to happen with Jackie O? She also alleges that she’s been terminated. So there’s going to be a lot to play out in this case.”
If it heads to court, a case like this “should be resolved in less than years and years”, Duggal believes.
“I don’t think it’s going to take forever and when it does go to court, it might come down to a pretty dry reading of the contract,” he says.
When it comes to Sandilands’ legal fight, Duggal says the radio host has a case but stresses, “It comes down to the terms of the contract, and the terms of the contract are not public knowledge.”
“So how strong his position is, no one really knows. Judging from what is known and what he is saying, there does appear to be a case to be had,” he says.
“Kyle’s position, as I understand it, is that what occurred on air was capable of being resolved.
“They told him he had 14 days to remedy it, but he was given no real chance to remedy it.
“Now he’s terminated, he’s lawyered up, and it’s now a legal matter before the court.
“So, I would expect to see litigation over whether he has a claim for the value of the balance of his contract, which has been reported to be a pretty eye-watering $88 million.”
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“Everyone’s quite fixated this morning on Kyle. But what about Jackie O?” Duggal continues.
“She had a contract that is reported to be of equivalent value, which also now is apparently terminated, so that’s in the mix as well.
“That very much compounds exposure, and that will be important to remember as this closes out.”
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Sandilands released a statement on Wednesday, announcing his termination from ARN.
“ARN has just announced that they’ve terminated my contract. I don’t accept it. My lawyers told them last week this would be invalid. And guess what? It is,” he claimed.
“Let me tell you what actually happened here. Jackie and I had a blue on air. That’s it. The kind of thing we’ve done a hundred times in 25 years. And ARN took the situation and decided to try and burn the place down.”
“They sacked Jackie. They suspended me. They wouldn’t even let me pick up the phone to call her or anyone else on the show.
“Then – and this is the bit that gets me – once they’d made it impossible for the show to go on, they turn around and say, ‘You didn’t fix it. You’re fired!’
“They didn’t want to fix this. They thought they saw a chance to get out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they ran with it.”
He added in part that he’s leaving things in the hands of his lawyers.
“I’ve got a contract until 2034. I’ve got rights under that contract. And ARN hasn’t honoured the contract. So, it’s over to my lawyers.”
ARN issued a statement to the ASX.
“ARN Media Limited advises that it has issued a notice of termination of contract to Mr Kyle Sandilands and Quasar Media Services Pty Ltd (Quasar Media),” the statement read.
“As a result, the Kyle and Jackie O show will no longer be presented.
“This decision follows the Company’s ASX announcement on 3 March 2026 which outlined that ARN had provided written notice to Mr Sandilands and Quasar Media stating that it considered Mr Sandilands’ behaviour during the broadcast of 20 February 2026 to constitute serious misconduct and a breach of ARN’s services agreement with Quasar Media, under which Mr Sandilands presents the Kyle and Jackie O show.
“As noted in the 3 March 2026 announcement, Mr Sandilands was given 14 days to remedy the breach.”
Sandilands was stood down following an on-air clash with Henderson on February 20, after she read from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s astrology birth chart.
Henderson, 51, broke her silence in a statement days later claiming she “did not quit or resign” from The Kyle and Jackie O Show after the program was pulled from the KIIS FM airwaves by ARN.
“I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign,” she said.
“I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else.
“It has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded. At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels.”
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ARN had said in its statement, ”Ms Jacqueline Henderson has given notice that she ‘cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands.
“Accordingly, ARN has terminated the services agreement with Henderson Media Pty Ltd, under which Ms Henderson presents the Kyle and Jackie O show. Ms Henderson will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O show.
“ARN has also offered to Ms Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the ARN network.
“ARN has also provided written notice to Mr Kyle Sandilands and Quasar Media Services Pty Ltd (Quasar Media) stating that it considers that Mr Sandilands’ behaviour during the show on 20 February 2026 is an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN’s services agreement with Quasar Media, under which Mr Sandilands presents the Kyle and Jackie O show.
“Mr Sandilands has been given 14 days to remedy this breach. If it is not remedied, ARN will terminate the services agreement with Quasar Media, and in that event Mr Sandilands will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O show.
“During the 14 day period, Mr Sandilands will not take part in the show. The KIIS breakfast show will be taken off-air effective immediately, with interim arrangements made for the show.”
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