Talkback radio host Michael Smith to revisit controversial interview on 2GB
Talkback radio host Michael Smith will revisit the interview that spurred his exit from 2UE on rival station 2GB on the drive show tomorrow.
Smith, who has been filling in for 2GB drive host Ben Fordham over the summer, will interview the former Victorian Australian Workers Union (AWU) boss Bob Kernohan about the alleged misallocation of funds in the 1990s by former AWU official Bruce Wilson.
The interview comes three years after the Fairfax Radio Network refused to air Smith’s prerecorded interview with Kernohan on the subject as it allegedly implicated former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the misallocation of funds.
Gillard, who was in a relationship with Wilson at the time and a lawyer with Slater and Gordon, helped provide legal advice to establish the AWU Workplace Reform Association and Victorian Police allege this was later used to siphon money from construction company Thiess to buy a house in inner Melbourne, The Australian reports.
Fairfax Radio management refused to broadcast the interview as it allegedly linked the former Prime Minister with the union fraud 16 years before, and Smith departed the radio station soon after.
He has since been a prolific blogger on the website Michael Smith News, and a regular on Ben Fordham’s show Sydney Live. He confirmed in November he would host the 2GB show in Fordham’s place during the summer.
Michael Smith is a Journalist of the greatest integrity and character.
Great to hear this interview finally out in the mainstream media.
I look forward to seeing where this story goes and if any prosecutions result.
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I wonder if 2GB management will seek permission from the now retired Gillard as 2UE did? Where is Graham Mott these days? Will Neil Mitchell go on the air and say “this is conspiracy theory stuff”.
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Michael Smith is a quality Journo and is very interesting to listen to , it was not right that he lost his job and indeed it proves that there is one rule for one section of the community and one rule for the rest . I am glad that this episode is coming out into the open as low paid workers lost a lot of money which could have been put to better use regards Irene
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Mixhael and Jason Morrison were both moved on from fairfax because they were conservatives. Fairfax had trouble with that.
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Steve C, unfortunately it will go nowhere.
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Quality journo? This bloke is nuts.
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When journos lose their jobs because of they question a PM’s past despite the mounting evidence, we are a step closer to a fascist state.
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Oh, no! Head for the hills all you squishy lefties! … the Michael Smith zombie squad has woken from its summer slumber and is about to bury you in another firestorm of undying praise for its poor put upon leader.
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Mike,
To you have not mentioned the vital issue of whether Julia witnessed that power of attorney. She could not have done so unless she went to WA to do it.
Congrats on this presentation.
David Bennett
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I waited two years ago to hear the interview that you finally got to air today.Thank you Michael, Bob and 2GB for allowing the truth be told.
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wonderful radio and so worth to stop everthing to listen and relish all.
. well done and congratulation to you both.
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Quality Journalist bwahahaha! Seriously, one of my Tory loving mates rang me all a-twitter saying Gillard was gone. More like “look over there, don’t question the CURRENT government”
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Dear Mike
Riveting radio, I just hope and pray that this trial does take place and is not abandoned due to “technical details” or some other cover up. Great work Michael and I am so glad to hear you on 2 GB radio
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I wait with bated breath to see if Chris Smith will go after corruption in the big end of town…
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Can anyone recall the last 2 hr radio live interview in Australia?
This is now out in the mainstream media. Anyone who dismisses this is either a fool or a rusted on ALP voter.
It will be the biggest political story in a generation and we should be asking why it is, that the offices of Slater and Gordon could be raided by Victorian police, in relation to a fraud, which directly involved the then sitting PM, only to be ignored by the national broadcaster.
Wakey wakey………
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As the judge said, “Much ado about very little”.
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Please keep Michael Smith on 2gb, great sense of humour and very informative.
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The best two hours of Radio I have ever listened to. Michael is a brilliant investigative journalist and he puts so many of the main media to shame. I cant wait for the conclusion to this story and the Royal Commission into Unions. Congratulations to Michael and also to Bob, who has waited so long to tell his story.
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