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Sattler sacked over PM interview
Rebecca Trigger, Kate Emery and AAP, The West Australian
Updated June 14, 2013, 2:35 pm
Sattler suspendend over gay questions
Perth radio host Howard Sattler has been suspended after asking Julia Gillard whether her partner was gay.
6PR drive presenter Howard Sattler has been sacked amid the fallout from his controversial interview with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in which he repeatedly asked if her partner Tim Mathieson was gay.
The announcement was made on-air by the station this afternoon.
6PR general manager Martin Boylen read the statement that was also sent to all staff.
He said Sattler’s conduct was disrespectful to the office and to the Prime Minister, and was entirely inappropriate.
Mr Boylen also apologised to Ms Gillard and Mr Mathieson for allowing Sattler to raise the matters that he did.
“The station has now decided to terminate Mr Sattler’s engagement effective immediately,” he said.
Sattler said he was taking legal action against Fairfax, saying he had six months left of a two year contract.
He said he was sorry he offended the Prime Minister but had no regrets.
The station suspended Sattler yesterday as outrage over the interview grew, gaining widespread condemnation.
Sattler, who is well known for his blunt style, quizzed Julia Gillard on his afternoon show yesterday about offensive references to her body on a Liberal Party fundraiser's menu, her religious beliefs and same-sex marriage.
He then asked if he could put rumours to her about her partner Tim Mathieson's sexual orientation.
Ms Gillard said the rumours were "absurd".
"But you hear it, he must be gay. He's a hairdresser," Sattler said.
Ms Gillard replied: "To all the hairdressers out there, including the men who are listening, I don't think in life one can actually look at a whole profession full of different human beings and say, 'Gee, we know something about every one of those human beings'. I mean it's absurd, isn't it?"
Sattler: "You can confirm that he's not?"
Gillard: "Oh, Howard, don't be ridiculous. Of course not."
The radio jock copped heavy criticism on Twitter with journalists and commentators asking if the questioning revealed double standards and went too far.
"Remember the day that radio interviewer asked John Howard if Janette was a lesbian?" @GregBaum tweeted.
Sattler later apologised to those who thought he went too far.
"The management of this station ... has instructed me to apologise to anyone who was offended by my interview with the Prime Minister, during which I asked questions about her private life," he said.
He said he asked Ms Gillard those questions because her office had agreed to a "candid" interview.
Fairfax Radio posted a statement on their website last night confirming Sattler had been suspended pending an internal inquiry.
"Fairfax Radio management has reviewed this interview and considers the questions posed by Mr Sattler were disrespectful and irrelevant to the political debate," it said.
"The PM answered Mr Sattler's questions with dignity and some patience."
A statement on the station's website this afternoon reiterated Mr Boylen's response: "During an interview on the Drive program yesterday, presenter Howard Sattler pursued a line of questioning with Prime Minister Julia Gillard that was disrespectful to the office and the person of the Prime Minister and was entirely inappropriate.
"Radio 6PR apologises unreservedly to Ms Gillard and Mr Mathieson for allowing these matters to be raised on the Drive Program.
"In the wake of yesterday's interview Radio 6PR suspended Mr Sattler from broadcasting pending a review of the matter today.
"The station has now decided to terminate Mr Sattler's engagement."
Sattler sacked over PM interview
Rebecca Trigger, Kate Emery and AAP, The West Australian
Updated June 14, 2013, 2:35 pm
Sattler suspendend over gay questions
Perth radio host Howard Sattler has been suspended after asking Julia Gillard whether her partner was gay.
6PR drive presenter Howard Sattler has been sacked amid the fallout from his controversial interview with Prime Minister Julia Gillard in which he repeatedly asked if her partner Tim Mathieson was gay.
The announcement was made on-air by the station this afternoon.
6PR general manager Martin Boylen read the statement that was also sent to all staff.
He said Sattler’s conduct was disrespectful to the office and to the Prime Minister, and was entirely inappropriate.
Mr Boylen also apologised to Ms Gillard and Mr Mathieson for allowing Sattler to raise the matters that he did.
“The station has now decided to terminate Mr Sattler’s engagement effective immediately,” he said.
Sattler said he was taking legal action against Fairfax, saying he had six months left of a two year contract.
He said he was sorry he offended the Prime Minister but had no regrets.
The station suspended Sattler yesterday as outrage over the interview grew, gaining widespread condemnation.
Sattler, who is well known for his blunt style, quizzed Julia Gillard on his afternoon show yesterday about offensive references to her body on a Liberal Party fundraiser's menu, her religious beliefs and same-sex marriage.
He then asked if he could put rumours to her about her partner Tim Mathieson's sexual orientation.
Ms Gillard said the rumours were "absurd".
"But you hear it, he must be gay. He's a hairdresser," Sattler said.
Ms Gillard replied: "To all the hairdressers out there, including the men who are listening, I don't think in life one can actually look at a whole profession full of different human beings and say, 'Gee, we know something about every one of those human beings'. I mean it's absurd, isn't it?"
Sattler: "You can confirm that he's not?"
Gillard: "Oh, Howard, don't be ridiculous. Of course not."
The radio jock copped heavy criticism on Twitter with journalists and commentators asking if the questioning revealed double standards and went too far.
"Remember the day that radio interviewer asked John Howard if Janette was a lesbian?" @GregBaum tweeted.
Sattler later apologised to those who thought he went too far.
"The management of this station ... has instructed me to apologise to anyone who was offended by my interview with the Prime Minister, during which I asked questions about her private life," he said.
He said he asked Ms Gillard those questions because her office had agreed to a "candid" interview.
Fairfax Radio posted a statement on their website last night confirming Sattler had been suspended pending an internal inquiry.
"Fairfax Radio management has reviewed this interview and considers the questions posed by Mr Sattler were disrespectful and irrelevant to the political debate," it said.
"The PM answered Mr Sattler's questions with dignity and some patience."
A statement on the station's website this afternoon reiterated Mr Boylen's response: "During an interview on the Drive program yesterday, presenter Howard Sattler pursued a line of questioning with Prime Minister Julia Gillard that was disrespectful to the office and the person of the Prime Minister and was entirely inappropriate.
"Radio 6PR apologises unreservedly to Ms Gillard and Mr Mathieson for allowing these matters to be raised on the Drive Program.
"In the wake of yesterday's interview Radio 6PR suspended Mr Sattler from broadcasting pending a review of the matter today.
"The station has now decided to terminate Mr Sattler's engagement."
