Investigative reporter Paul Barry is leaving 60 Minutes, and is currently negotiating his exit from the Nine Network ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the year.

Barry, a surprise appointment, was lured across from the Sydney Morning Herald by PBL CEO John Alexander to a big six-figure job reporting for A Current Affair at the start of 2003. As Crikey reported at the time, it was an unlikely appointment in light of Barry’s FourCorners job on the Packers and a less-than-complimentary book, The Rise and Rise of Kerry Packer.

Barry reportedly had a difficult time at ACA, where he certainly didn’t set the world on fire and had a tense relationship with presenter Ray Martin. He had to battle Today Tonight
over his debut story after a Crikey tip revealed he was investigating
the effects of lead pollution from the Pasminco smelter in Newcastle –
that story is in our archive here.

Barry had a provision in his contract that he could move to 60 Minutes during his three-year deal, which was exercised at the end of last year.