Sky News Australia pulled from train stations over backlash Published duration 9 August 2018

image copyright Getty Images image caption Train stations in central Melbourne will no long broadcast Sky News Australia

An Australian state has instructed train stations to stop broadcasting Sky News Australia, amid a widening backlash over a recent TV interview.

On Sunday, Sky News Australia hosted Blair Cottrell - a far-right figure with court convictions - in its studio.

It drew much public anger . Many pointed out that he had once called for schools to display images of Adolf Hitler.

On Thursday, Victoria said that the channel would no longer be played at train stations in central Melbourne.

"Hatred and racism have no place on our screens or in our community," tweeted Transport Minister Jacinta Allen.

Cottrell used his interview to call on Australia to reduce immigration, protect itself from "foreign ideologies" and to "reclaim our traditional identity".

Sky News Australia has said it was "wrong" to interview Cottrell on The Adam Giles Show. It has since suspended the programme.

How the backlash unfolded

Last year, Cottrell was one of three men found guilty by a magistrate of inciting contempt of Muslims, after the men staged a mock beheading to protest against the building of a mosque.

He was previously convicted of other offences, including arson and burglary.

image copyright EPA image caption Blair Cottrell's appearance on Sky News Australia has prompted a backlash

Many critics of the interview pointed out this history. But much anger centred on comments he had made on social media, especially about Nazism and women.

"Blair Cottrell is a far right-wing fascist who's a self confessed Hitler fan. He's boasted about using 'violence and terror' to manipulate women," tweeted one critic, Laura Jayes, a Sky News Australia presenter.

The backlash intensified when Jayes posted a screenshot of a tweet by Cottrell, in which he talked about hypothetically raping her on air.

One commentator, Craig Emerson, said he would no longer appear on the network, while brands American Express, Specsavers and Huggies all pulled advertising.

Victoria accused of 'censorship'

Ms Allan described the interview as "the final straw" for the network, telling local radio 3AW: "There have been a number of interviews that had started to go down a slippery slope."

Although Ms Allan's announcement was welcomed by some observers, others suggested it may have gone too far.

"Banning Sky from broadcasting at Victorian rail stations is absurd. The daytime line up… is professional and first rate," tweeted academic and journalist Peter van Onselen.

Other commentators said it was an act of "censorship".

New South Wales, which also broadcasts Sky News Australia at train stations, has said it will not follow Victoria's move.

Related Topics Australia

Television