Political commentator Mark Latham has been sacked by Sky News over the former Labor leader’s controversial comments in recent days involving ABC announcer Wendy Harmer, former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally and a Sydney schoolboy.
Sky News political editor David Speers broke the news live on Wednesday afternoon saying Mr Latham’s contract was terminated in light of the comments.
Mr Latham, who fronted Sky News’ political chat show Outsiders, was slammed by Labor leader Bill Shorten and his deputy Tanya Plibersek on Wednesday after he called the captain of Sydney Boys High School “gay” for taking part in a video supporting feminism.
Mr Shorten said his predecessor displayed “sad, attention seeking behaviour by attacking other people”.
“He’s behaving like a bully and he should apologise,” he said.
Mr Latham was threatened with legal action on Tuesday by Ms Harmer after he called the broadcaster a “female with a disability”.
His dismissal also comes just over a week after being criticised on Media Watch for attacking Sky News colleague Peter van Onselen and his wife Ainslie van Onselen over her previous role in Westpac women’s markets, inclusion and diversity division.
He also later took aim at fellow Sky News commentator, Ms Keneally, making insinuations about her time as the premier of NSW between 2009 and 2011.