How New Idea was able to run details of secret Stefanovic call

WEEKLY women’s magazine New Idea has today published juicy details of the late-night phone call between brothers Karl and Peter Stefanovic — but with a catch.

When news of the phone call, which allegedly took place on speakerphone and in earshot of Peter’s Uber driver, first broke last week, it was widely reported that the driver was touting an audiotape he’d secretly recorded of the brothers’ frank chat.

By the end of last week, that story had changed: The unnamed Uber driver did not have any recording, and would be recounting what was said purely from his own memory.

Indeed, today’s New Idea article is careful to make that distinction clear: “I don’t have a dash-cam ... I don’t even know how to record something on my phone,” New Idea quotes the driver saying, adding that he “vehemently” denies any tape exists.

There’s a very good reason for this.

It is illegal in the state of NSW to “secretly record a private conversation to which you are a party.” If a tape of the Stefanovic brothers’ lengthy phone call did exist, it would be illegal — and any media outlet which used it would risk breaking the law.

“Note that publication or communication of any recording of a private conversation is prohibited in all jurisdictions,” according to legal firm MST Lawyers.

The Australian reported that the driver is understood to have signed a statutory declaration saying he did not tape the conversation.

The driver’s notes were sold to New Idea - which is owned by rival Seven West Media through publisher Pacific Magazines.

It is reported the driver was paid $50,000 for the story.

But before those details could be published, the brothers publicly apologised yesterday.

“We talk a hundred times a day and hardly ever about work,” Karl said, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

“But we did, and the conversation was recorded. And we are sorry. I was angry with myself at first that I could be so stupid.”

Peter, who hosts Today Weekend and is married to Today newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys, has apologised for the conversation.

“I did a silly thing and feel awful for any embarrassment I’ve brought to my (Channel 9) colleagues, who I deeply respect,” he said.

It’s understood Peter filed a complaint with Uber over the incident and driver.

Both Stefanovic brothers, Jeffreys and Gardner are all on-air on Today this morning, with Gardner at one point calling her co-host “pathetic” during an awkward exchange.

Breaking the story on the Kyle and Jackie O show last week, entertainent reporter Peter Ford initially said the driver had recorded the conversation and claimed he’d “had the phone call transcribed” to him, insisting its contents were “not earth shattering”.

“They talked about jobs, about life, a bit of bitching and a bit of moaning. But I think most people would think, there but for the grace of God go I,” he said.

“I don’t know that it would destroy [Karl and Georgie’s partnership], but it certainly would cause ... it’s an unusual relationship between those two anyway, you just wouldn’t want any grenade thrown into the mix.”

By the time Ford appeared on 3AW later in the week, he was denying the existence of a tape.

“New Idea have got the Stefanovic tapes — now, what they’re saying in the story is there are no tapes. The driver in the car says he’s remembered all the details of the conversation. He must have an extraordinary memory,” said Ford, adding that the new details could potentially damage the brothers’ working relationships with several of their Nine colleagues.

News.com.au has contacted New Idea for comment.

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