Australiaâ„¢s 6PR radio host Howard Sattler (R) interviews Prime Minister Julia Gillard a the studio on June 13, 2013.
Prominent Australian radio host Howard Sattler has been sacked for asking Prime Minister Julia Gillard a personal question about her partner Tim Mathieson.
On Thursday, Howard Sattler – a longtime host of an evening show on the 6PR radio station in Perth – posed the question after challenging Gillard to answer a series of rumors and myths.
He argued that Mathieson must be a homosexual because he is a hairdresser.
Gillard described the proposition as silly and absurd. Å“Oh, isn’t that…,” she said.
But Sattler persisted and said, Å“But you’ve heard it? It’s not me saying it. It’s what people…”
On Friday, the management of the Fairfax radio – a well-known Australian radio network and owner of the 6PR radio station – first suspended Sattler from broadcasting pending an internal inquiry, before 6PR General Manager Martin Boylen announced on air that he had been fired.
“In the wake of yesterday’s interview, radio 6PR suspended Sattler from broadcasting, pending a review of the matter today,” he said, adding, “The station has now decided to terminate Sattler’s engagement, effective immediately.”
The 6PR radio station also issued an apology for allowing personal questions about Gillardâ„¢s partner to be raised by Sattler on his program.
“Radio 6PR apologizes unreservedly to Miss Gillard and Mr. Mathieson for allowing these matters to be raised on the Drive program,” a statement from Boylan said.
Meanwhile, Sattler intends to take legal action against Fairfax.
He said he had six months left on his two-year contract, and is “staggered” and “flabbergasted” at how events have unfolded since the interview.
Sattler said there were other factors at play in his sacking.
“I believe that the reason given is not the only reason for this happening. It is unjustified and in my belief it is possibly unlawful what they’ve done,” he said.
Gillard has been the subject of mounting personal attacks, with her Labor Party far behind in the polls ahead of the September 14 elections.
MP/SS
This article originally appeared on: Press TV