ABC presenter off air for voicing ad

Radio presenter Suzanne McGill has been stood down from the ABC after it was revealed she voiced the anti-gay television commercial for Katter’s Australian Party.

Fairfax Media reports that a spokeswoman for the ABC confirmed that McGill, a casual weekend presenter for regional Local Radio in Western Australia, “did not seek nor obtain permission for external voiceover work as required in accordance with ABC policies”.

“ABC editorial and workplace policies apply to all staff, regardless of employment status,” she said.

The ad, which features two shirtless men in an embrace while McGill’s voiceover questions Queensland Opposition Leader Campbell Newman’s gay marriage stance, was widely condemned by politicians, gay rights activists and media commentators yesterday.

Carl Katter, the half-brother of Bob Katter and an AME board member, called it “disrespectful”.

“This ad ignores the high level of support for marriage equality in Queensland, and is totally disrespectful of the many gay Queenslanders who proudly contribute to their state every day of their lives,” he said.

The Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC) also condemned the attack ad.

“Katter’s hate group is stomping on the lives of gay and lesbian families to try and score cheap political points,” said QAHC executive director Paul R Martin.

“It’s not worthy of a serious political party in the 21st century.

“It’s this kind of hate attack on the gay and lesbian community that contributes to rates of mental illness and suicide being four-to-five times that of heterosexual people.”