ABC director of news Gaven Morris has denied newsreader Natasha Exelby is being punished for her on-air day dream gaffe.
Exelby was caught playing with a pen when the camera cut back to her at her desk during Saturday's evening bulletin.
"Live television is a demanding art and slip-ups will happen - our presenters are humans, not robots," Morris said.
"We take on-air standards extremely seriously, but we don't expect perfection. No one would ever be punished for a blooper and, while it isn't appropriate to publicly discuss confidential details of people's personal work arrangements, this has not happened to Natasha."
Morris said he has assured Exelby, a casual employee, that the ABC wants her to continue working various shifts she has been rostered for.
