Exclusive: CEO Will Hayward was yet to speak to Rundle, who also made headlines this year for a column relating to Brittany Higgins’ alleged sexual assault

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

A text to ABC Radio from Crikey’s correspondent-at-large Guy Rundle saying sexual assault complaints have gone up because “every grope is now a sexual assault” has been labelled abhorrent by his employer Private Media.

Guardian Australia understands the message is one of dozens of “inflammatory” texts sent by the writer on a variety of topics in recent months to the RN Breakfast show, hosted by Patricia Karvelas. The sexual assault text is the first one Karvelas has read out on air along with his name.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email