Awkward moment Amanda Vanstone calls Indigenous educator and Young Australian of the Year nominee a ‘f***wit’ on an open phone line
- Amanda Vanstone hosts Counterpoint on Radio National
- She interviewed DeadlyScience founder Corey Tutt
- Ms Vanstone denigrated the way Mr Tutt spoke
Federal politician turned ABC radio host Amanda Vanstone has been caught out calling a guest a ‘f***wit’ while he was still on a phone line after a pre-recorded interview.
The onetime Liberal minister for immigration and multitcultural affairs had just spoken to Aboriginal educator and author Corey Tutt on her program Counterpoint on Wednesday when she made the comment.
Mr Tutt is the founder of DeadlyScience, which provides remote communities with educational resources, and was named the 2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year.
He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in last year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to Indigenous science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
After Ms Vanstone had finished interviewing Mr Tutt and he remained on the line waiting to speak to a producer, the Radio National presenter denigrated the way he spoke.
Mr Tutt told The Guardian Australia‘s Weekly Beast column he heard Ms Vanstone say his interview would need to be edited so he did not sound like such a ‘f***wit’.
‘And you know, even as a Young Australian of the Year, as an OAM, as an associate professor, I am still copping this s***,’ he said. ‘No matter what I do I am still copping it.’
‘I’ve been interviewed by so many radio hosts: rightwing people and extremely leftwing people – the whole spectrum.
‘But I’ve never had anyone critique the way I talk. Because I’m very real and I don’t need to be a politician. I don’t need to manufacture what I do because I live and breathe it every day.’
Ms Vanstone called Mr Tutt to apologise after Mr Tutt told her producer he had heard every word of what she said.
The former ambassador to Italy told The Guardian: ‘I have apologised to Corey for what I said and would not like to make public comment at the risk of causing him further hurt’.
A spokeswoman for the national broadcaster said Ms Vanstone’s conduct was unacceptable to the ABC.
‘Following a pre-recorded segment with a guest on her program, ABC RN presenter Amanda Vanstone made some hurtful remarks about the guest’s performance, unaware the guest was still on the line,’ she said.
‘Her conduct was not of a standard acceptable to the ABC.
‘Amanda Vanstone apologised to the guest immediately and the ABC has also apologised. Amanda has been counselled by her managers.’
Mr Tutt has asked that his interview with Ms Vanstone not be broadcast.
