In November 2004, the Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) found that John Laws, Steve Price and Radio 2UE had unlawfully vilified homosexuals in contravention of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).
Today, the ADT ordered that they all make public apologies and pay legal costs in the matter.
Laws and Price have been ordered to make public apologies on air, and Radio 2UE has been ordered to print an apology in three major metropolitan newspapers.
Legal costs are usually not ordered by the ADT (each party usually bears their own costs). However the Tribunal in this case found that because of the public interest nature of the matter, an order for costs was justified.
The orders have been stayed (put on hold) pending an appeal brought by John Laws, Steve Price and Radio 2UE.
The complaint had been lodged by Gary Burns, a Sydney gay man, after comments were made on Radio 2UE by Laws and Price in relation to the appearance of a gay couple on the Channel 9 television program, The Block. Burns alleged the comments incited hatred towards, serious contempt for, and severe ridicule of homosexuals on the ground of their homosexuality, in contravention of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) and is seeking financial compensation and a public apology, on air and in writing.
Mr Burns is represented by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic O’Grady, Media and Communications Officer,
Public Interest Advocacy Centre. Ph: 02 8898 6532 or 0400 110 169