news, local-news

A BUNBURY-based ABC radio presenter has been taken off the air after it was revealed she was the voice behind a controversial anti gay marriage television commercial produced for Katter's Australian Party. A spokeswoman for the ABC said Suzanne McGill, a casual weekend presenter for regional Local Radio, "did not seek nor obtain permission for external voiceover work as required in accordance with ABC policies". "ABC editorial and workplace policies apply to all staff, regardless of employment status," she said. "To that end, the ABC will conduct a formal investigation. Ms McGill will not be on air while the matter is investigated." Rumours began circulating late last night that an ABC employee was the "S. McGill" listed as voicing the advertisement on the electoral ad's authorisation card. James Newburrie, who writes a blog called Equal Love Campaign, compared Ms McGill’s voice to the one featured in the advertisement. The blog article was picked up by marriage equality advocate Michael James, of Rip 'n' Roll campaign fame, and tweeted to various news outlets, including this one. Previously, a spokesman for Katter’s Australian Party said the ad was voiced by a ‘‘professional voice over reader’’ but would not reveal the production company used in the ad. State party leader Aidan McLindon issued a statement today, calling for federal communications minister Stephen Conroy to ensure the ABC reinstated Ms McGill. "The ABC must reinstate Ms McGill and Stephen Conroy should conduct an immediate investigation into this situation,'' he said. "It seems pretty clear that the ABC management has targeted someone who has simply provided a professional service in her own time to an advertising agency. "This sort of vilification should not be tolerated. We live in Queensland, not Russia." Ms McGill has been stood down for not seeking permission to undertake external voice over work. The investigation will also look at whether she has breached ABC editorial and workplace policies. The ad, which went to air at the weekend, begins with a question: ‘‘How well do you know (Queensland Liberal National Party leader) Campbell Newman?’’ It then shows an image of two men hugging and includes file vision of Mr Newman in a news conference stating that he supports gay marriage. Just last Friday, Ms McGill conducted an interview about school bullying and homophobia on South West WA regional Local Radio. The photographer behind the image, Franck Camhi, told the Mr Camhi said he sold the pictures through an online image library and said he was against the images being used for this purpose and would contact the agency to try to stop them being used. "I am against the use of it personally and if I can stop it I will," he said. The ad has been condemned by both Premier Anna Bligh and Mr Newman, as well as prominent equal rights activists and Mr Katter’s gay half-brother, Carl.

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