Fairfax journos are well known for their independence from the board. If they can stare down Gina Reinhardt they can stare down James Millar.
In a choice between conspiracy and incompetence, choose incompetence. The reason, probably, the stories have dried up on Slaters collapse is because the collapse has stopped for now (and hopefully for good.) 'Company Stabalises And May Slowly Recover' is not a headline to sell many papers.