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Hinch Blog: Exposing Michael Smith

Posted by: By Derryn Hinch, 3AW Drive | 16 January, 2009 - 5:17 PM

I want to go back, reluctantly, to an issue I covered on the program yesterday about Muslim women wearing the hijab or a burqua in public.

It was started by comments from a Brisbane radio host. Continued in a clash we had on 4BC and 3AW. And today blows up all over Page One of the Herald Sun with the headline Veil Ban Fury. Push to outlaw Muslim hijabs and hoodies in shops.

Just briefly. Yesterday I said an erstwhile colleague on sister station 4BC had come out and demanded that Muslim women who wear the traditional hijab or burqa should be charged with offensive behaviour.

Michael Smith, a former Victorian police officer, now 4BC drive-time announcer said he found their behaviour offensive and I said 'I guess he’ll be going after nuns next. Or maybe men who wear beards'.

Now, in our live debate – such as it was – I agreed with him that people should not be allowed to enter banks with covered faces. Be it a burqua, a motorcycle helmet, a hoodie, or a clown mask. But Smithy wasn't only talking about banks specifically. He was talking about shopping centres in general.

I asked him if he found the hijab offensive. He called me a 'goose', accused me of going off half-cocked, taking him out of context etcetera.

THE DEBATE HERE: The 'moron' and the 'goose'

That triggered a lot of e-mails which I read when I got off air. And they accused Smith of lying to me. That he had used the word 'offensive'. And then I obtained Smith's original blog which had been removed after some hours by management.

In it, Smith talks about Roselands Shopping Center in Sydney and a number of women dressed in black robes and I know he found their behaviour offensive and that if he was still a copper he would have considered charging them with offensive behaviour.

Well, Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Government would never allow such a ban. And Victorian Acting Premier Rob Hulls says Smith’s views are Hansonesque –as in Pauline Hanson.

My advice to the new boy on the block is simple: If you think you are right stick to your view. If you are wrong, then apologise. But don't say something in print and then, when you get in hot water, lie to me on air. Now, that's offensive.

Blog comments

Gosh you are a gutless one, Derryn Hinch.

You beat-up a story without trying to establish any facts at all; let alone think to verify anything before you spew it forth, and now........

...you don't even have the guts to speak to Smithy although he keeps trying to clear up the facts of the matter with you.

Don't you have enough pride in your profession to provide truth in your reporting.

It's the running away like a mongrel dog with its' tail between it's legs that lets us all see that huge yellow streak!

Clear it up - you started it, now's the time to do the clean up. Why not even go so far as to apologise if you are proved wrong? Hey, stick to your guns - if you are proved right, isn't that how it goes. Not scared of the result are you?

C'mon Hinchy, where's ya backbone?

Dee Wednesday 21 January, 2009 - 2:49 PM
DEATH THREATS have been made to Smithy, his family and his work collegues, Derryn.

Where is your outrage now? Conspicuously absent, I notice.

You were very quick to jump on the bandwagon and stick the boot into Smithy without any checking of facts before you shot your mouth off. You haven't had the decency to re-visit this topic and correct your untruths and outrageous claims. Yet you rave on about personal responsibility.

Well, where is your personal responsibility in drawing attention to the fact that because Michael Smith spoke on a matter of security for every Australian citizen he has been threatened with beheading?

Surely even you cannot think it is OK to make death threats towards a person exercising their right of free speech.

So you think it is right to misuse the truth the way you did to roast Michael.......and yet you have nothing, not one thing, to say about people to whom making threats of death and beheading is their first response to hearing something they don't agree with?

These DEATH threats were made on Friday yet here we are on Wednesday and I am still to see any coverage of this on any media. Sad when a person speaking on security which affects each and every one of us makes a great beat-up story and yet people making threats to murder him isn't newsworthy.

Hardly sounds like the Australian way of doing things to my way thinking.

Is this what Australia is becoming - I don't like what you say so I am going to kill you? Is it?

Over my dead body!

Dee Wednesday 21 January, 2009 - 8:40 AM
your embarrassing hinchy...pull ya head in mate..

Littleozzybloke Monday 19 January, 2009 - 2:09 PM
Low life and pointless - thats the only way to describe todays media. There are several critical issues facing us nationally and internationally. Health, education, alochol, gambling, drugs and youth sucide are a few besides climate change, financial crisis and last but certainly not the least, the genocide in Gaza that the UN has termed it as crimes against humanity. How about we also ban Santa Claus, Nuns and Rabiis as they all can be security threats. The ignorance of rednecks is baffling.

bazza Sunday 18 January, 2009 - 5:57 AM
Yes that is Derryn's usual style. He'll be monstering poor Micahel if he can get his face or head on the telly but (the better news is) no one is that interested in Derryn because he is not the newsbreaker - Michael Smith is! and I am now listening to SMITHY (go go Smithy!) on 4BC so Fairfax will still win out - just googleNEWS 'derryn Hinch' and you'll see he got nothing at all for all his attempting. The issue of head coverings in security protected areas needs debating, if we are all wrong to want to see faces when people enter a bank or a retail business then Law makers will create a suitable law for it. A part one exists now.

I now listen to Smithy 4BC Saturday 17 January, 2009 - 10:55 AM
What is truely offensive is you going off half-cocked and trying to get publicity Germaine Greer style. Hang on, that's your style too, isn't it?

I heard the exchange between you and Michael Smith and what he had to say was exactly the same as he has said from the beginning.

The comments you have jumped on so quickly have been used so far out of context it's not even funny, but that hasn't worried you has it?
From the first he has made it clear, that the matter of security - banks, post offices, servos, driving...is the issue. He has also been at pains to point out that it is soley the full black outfit with only a slit for the eyes which was a security risk.

It might not suit you Derryn to table all the facts but you owe it to your listeners and you owe it to Mr Smith to place the entire facts before them. That way they may make an informed opinion not one guided by a REAL shock-jock!

From your comment about the 'new boy on the block' I think your real issue is insecurity.

What the acting PM & acting Premier of Victoria are basing their quotes on I would like to know. Have they researched and checked out the whole story or are they responding to the clearly incorrect and to my mind criminal reporting of this beat-up in the Courier Mail and Channels 7 & 9. These outlets have intentionally made this into something so far removed from the words that came out of Mr Smiths mouth that I believe it to be a clear and concerted effort to stir racial tension. You sir, are perpetuating this lie with no regard for the truth.

Dee Saturday 17 January, 2009 - 8:31 AM