SEN chief Craig Hutchison says that 'supports' in the controversial decision to retain veteran commentator and journalist of Cricket Peter Lalor in the middle of the Australian test series against Sri Lanka.
It is understood that the decision was made after the heads of the station made an exception to the activity of Lalor's social networks.
In recent months, he had published multiple articles, videos and images about his X Feed in relation to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He had also published stories related to the liberation of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
The decision to fire Lalor last week obtained many criticism from the Australian Cricket community, with the Australian opener Usman Khawaja marking the “incredible” decision.
In a statement issued last week, the head of the Hutchison station declared that he had spoken with Lalor about the comment in his food on social networks.
“Peter and I have a different vision of that on the Australian community,” he said.
He added: “We respect Pete as a journalist and taxpayer for a long time to the game, but we also recognize the fear that many families in our community will sit at this time, and we also need to respect that.”
Peter Lalor was fired by Sen after the radio station leaders made an exception to their activity in social networks
Sen's head, Craig Hutchison, doubled his Ax Lalor decision during the Australian test series against Sri Lanka
Since then he has spoken to double his decision.
“For anyone who has misunderstood that reason for my decision, I was me, I apologize for any crime caused, but support the decision,” Hutchison told Damian Barrett on The podcast of the Sound Board Tuesday.
'What I would say is that we live in a very sensitive moment in a community that, there are so many sections of the community that they are suffering and through batch.
'And I want to be really respectful with everyone in that community. It is a more difficult time than ever in Australian life.
Reflecting on events prior to the decision, Hutchison revealed that Lalor's independent contract had previously expired, but the station had asked him to work during the Sri Lanka series, noting that he had been in the subcontinent.
“What I will say from the beginning with Pete is that he has had and has full respect, respect Peter as an individual and as a professional,” said Hutchison.
'His independent contract with us expired on January 31, but we knew he was in Sri Lanka, so we agreed to extend that opportunity for some changes in comments in the series.
'At the beginning of the series, near and superimposed on the series, part of its recent republication on the social media platform X, offended part of our audience.
Lalor has subsequently responded to the comments made by Hutchison, stating: “The involvement he makes in the podcast is misleading and disappointing”
The Australian Crick Star, Usman Khawaja, has also taken Lalor's defense on social networks
Khawaja published a snapshot of Lalor's comments on his Instagram, writing: “Defending Gaza's people is not anti -Semitic”
'That went from content related to Gaza, but also meme retweets with Nazis -related images that were not related to the conflict in Gaza, and some other things.
“On the eve of the test, we receive some comments from the audience.”
Pressing by Barrett in terms of what images related to the Nazis referred to, Hutchison said: 'There was a variety of retweeties that caused an offense to our audience at that time, on varied topics.
'Pete told me that his method in X was to share mainly content generated by others that he felt he needed to be seen, or re -publish or retweet, without necessarily offering comments on that material himself.
“I argued with Pete that (his) retweech could be misunderstood, and the possibilities of community members could be offended by retweet.”
“And now we have a clear position for all employees, even in Pete's independent agreement in our social media policy.”
Subsequently, Lalor responded to the comments made by Hutchison, stating: “The involvement in the podcast is misleading and disappointing.”
The elimination of Lalor has caught the attention of many worldwide from Crickt, including the Australian batter Khawaja.
The Australian, who hit a double century in Galle, captured Lalor's comments after his dismissal announcement and published them in his Instagram history.
He wrote in his subtitles of the publication: “Defending the people of Gaza is not an anti -Semitic” add “unfortunately hate towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist.”
Lalor has worked as a journalist for almost 30 years and last year he left his position as the main Cricket writer of the Australian
After the announcement was made that he was going to leave Sen, Lalor revealed that he had made three calls with the organization.
'They told me in a call that there were serious organizations that presented complaints; In another, they told me that this was not the case, 'said Lalor in a statement.
'Maybe I understood it badly. They told me that there were accusations that was an anti -Semitic to which I fell strongly.
'They told me that my retweech was not balanced and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.
'The head of the station, Craig Hutchison, asked me if it was civil if I didn't care that my retweech of the events in Gaza made the Jews in Melbourne feel insecure.
'I said I didn't want anyone to feel insecure.
Of course, I care. I have friends who are scared and I have heard fear in their voices during the conversations. It is a horrible situation.
'But it is also gaza. It was a brief and cordial call.
“The next day, Hutchison told me that because the” sound of my voice made people feel insecure “and that people are” triggered by my voice “, I could no longer cover the cricket for them.”