Controversial former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has been sacked as a commentator on Sky News Australia.
‘Sky News has ended the contract of contributor Mark Latham following a number of controversies in relation to his comments,’ political editor David Speers announced on air on Wednesday.
Mr Latham had been under fire over comments he made on-air about the sexuality of a Sydney schoolboy who appeared in a video for International Women’s Day.
He’s also been criticised for remarks about fellow Sky News commentator Kristina Keneally and ABC radio presenter Wendy Harmer.
‘While we support strong opinions and robust arguments, we pride ourselves in doing so in a civil and respectful manner,’ Sky News Australia chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos said on Twitter.
The former Labor leader had appeared on various programs including the pay-TV channel’s panel show Outsiders.
The panel on Sunday discussed a Sydney Boys High School video in which students discussed the importance of feminism.
‘The boys at the boys’ school look like dickheads doing their video, total dickheads,’ Mr Latham reportedly said on the show.
‘I thought the first guy was gay.’
Mr Latham resigned as a columnist at the Australian Financial Review in 2015 following pressure over remarks he made about women, including anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.
Why on earth did you remove Mark Latham from his role? Please consider his reinstatement – he is just brilliant! Even though I am not a Labor supporter, he is one of the very few persons on the Left, I admire.
I cannot abide Kristina Keneally who has the worst voice for either radio or TV – shrill, harsh and unmistakably accented.
Mark at least spoke calmly and clearly about our political and economic situation as it is. I loved his refreshing comments even if you consider them to be “politically incorrect”. Perhaps a word with him to modify his statements regarding children would have been sufficient! However, I agreed with his surprise at anyone taking “advice” from their 15 year old daughter – I had 3 of them plus a son – whose advice would have been just as flawed in their teenage years.
Furthermore, if you can persuade Peta Credlin to run for political office, she could make the very best Prime Minister of Australia. What a brilliant personality and such a clear and logical thinker!!
If you wish to keep your audience (who pay for the privilege of watching what was previously top viewing) get rid of Keneally and reinstate Mark Latham. The Bolt Report is excellent, we enjoy Paul Murray, Jones & Co and The Outsiders immensely but if you bow to stupid pressures you will certainly lose us.
Latham has admitted to being a hater of people and politicians. His attack on Julia Gillard’s personal life and character regarding our former first female PM being unable to experience true love [let alone her decision to remain childless] says it all. The man has no empathy for anyone other than himself.
So happy to see political correctness is thriving down under, we wouldn’t want anyone to feel like they can freely express themselves now, would we?