NSW: Radio announcer apologises for on-air race comments

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2005
NSW: Radio announcer apologises for on-air race comments

Claims that talkback radio helped stoke Sydney's race violence have been reinforced
.. after a radio announcer was forced to apologise for on-air comments about Lebanese
Australians.

BRIAN WILSHIRE .. late night announcer for Macquarie Radio station 2GB .. last night
accused some Lebanese of being inbred .. and having low IQs.

The comments have been greeted by outrage in Sydney .. where thousands of police are
preparing to mount road blocks this weekend to prevent a repeat of last Sunday's race
riot at Cronulla beach.

WILSHIRE apologised and retracted his remarks today .. telling Network Ten he understands
why they may have caused offence.





Lebanese spokesman KEYSAR TRAD says a number of presenters from the same radio station
helped fuel racism.

And STEPHEN STANTON from Lebanese human rights organisation Cedarwatch says talkback
stations like 2GB helped incite the violence of the past week.

AAP RTV sn/kaf/smb/sp/sd/tm/sco

KEYWORD: SURF RADIO (SYDNEY)

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