Channel Seven sanctioned for on-air domestic violence jokes
An episode of Step Outside with Paul Burt breached the Code of Practice.
The communications watchdog has found Channel Seven breached classification rules, after a guest on a PG-rated fishing show made numerous offensive jokes about domestic violence, including asking if the host beats his wife.
The comments were made during an episode of Step Outside with Paul Burt, broadcast on 7mate in March 2025. The commercial TV Code of Practice requires PG shows to handle themes of domestic conflict with care.
The show featured a guest “bush cook ranger” who demonstrated how to cook battered field mushroom. As Burt was handed a bowl of eggs and a fork, the guest said: “That’s your job Pauly, you mix that up, give that a good beating, like you do with your missus. You don’t beat your missus do you?”
The guest further said: “Mine always likes, every now and then I just find I’ve gotta tie her to a tree and flog her with wire, you know?”
Seven removed the show from 7Plus and 7Mate after it received the complaint, and its TV boss Angus Ross made a public apology, as well as a private one to the initial complainant.
The network defended the show’s PG rating in a response to Australian Communications and Media Authority, writing: “Paul Burt, the host of the show, clearly appears uncomfortable during the short exchange and recognises the comments are inappropriate. Twice, he exclaims ‘Oh, my God!’ while looking shocked in response.
“It is evident to the viewer that the extremely poor attempt at humour by the guest was not received well nor encouraged. Based on the above, Seven’s view is that a PG classification can be justified.”
Seven also noted that the show was made and delivered to the network by a third-party production company, who is contractually obliged to ensure the show is complaint with the PG rating. ACMA rebuffed this, saying that licensees cannot “contract out their obligations” in regards to the broadcast code.
“These were disturbing comments,” ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said. “They may have been intended as a crude attempt at humour, but they were totally unacceptable.
“Viewers were not warned at the outset that the program contained such themes and Channel Seven should have taken greater care in handling this sensitive and serious issue.”
Paul Burt
ACMA said in its ruling that viewers of a light entertainment program that follows a host who “travels across Australia to find some of the best fishing spots in the country, offering angling tips and reviewing the gear he uses along the way” would not expect themes of domestic violence to be raised.
There was no warning at the start of the episode, and ACMA said that, although the guest “appeared to be making an attempt at humour … there was nothing in the program more broadly or the segment itself, to suggest a comedic context or other context where domestic conflict themes would be justified.”
ACMA also noted the show aired at 2pm on Sunday when young people were likely to be watching.
“The sudden introduction of the topic and the vivid references to domestic violence did not create an opportunity for parents watching with children to engage in their own conversation about domestic conflict and provide guidance that might mitigate the impact of the material.”
The ruling noted: “While the comments were brief, the language was strong and violent in nature” with its references to ‘beating’, ‘flogging’, and ‘tying up’ the guest’s wife.
“Domestic violence is an issue of significant and serious concern in Australia and the ACMA considers that the impact of the dialogue exceeded the ‘mild’ impact level required for PG classification.”
The ACMA is currently considering “appropriate enforcement action” and will announce the penalties once they are finalised.
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