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?”
