Alex Cullen hits back at critics over Barnaby Joyce tell-all

TASKED with the biggest political story of the year, the interview should have been a defining moment in Alex Cullen’s career, but instead left viewers asking if the Sunday Night journalist will ever be given such a high-profile interview again.

SUNDAY Night journalist Alex Cullen has hit back at criticism that he went “soft” on former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion during their much-hyped $150,000 tell-all interview.

Viewers on social media were quick to comment on Cullen’s reticence to push Joyce on the tough questions and failure to address some of the issues he has been avoiding since news of the affair broke.

Alex Cullen has come under fire for his “soft” interview with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion. Picture: Channel 7

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“I’d like to make it clear that (questions) about Joyce’s alleged taxpayer funded travel rorts and claims of sexual misconduct were asked in our @sundaynighton7 (interview),” Cullen tweeted after intense criticism.

I’d like to make it clear that q’s about Joyce’s alleged tax-payer funded travel rorts and claims of sexual misconduct were asked in our @sundaynighton7 I/V. The response to these q’s was the same as we’ve heard time and time again. Vehemently denied hence nothing new. #Auspol

— Alex Cullen (@alextcullen) June 4, 2018

“The response to these (questions) was the same as we’ve heard time and time again. “Vehemently denied hence nothing new. #Auspol”

Tasked with the biggest political story of the year, the interview should have been a defining moment in Cullen’s career, but instead left viewers asking if he’ll ever be given such a high-profile interview again.

Cullen failed to address some of the issues Joyce has been avoiding since news of the affair broke. Picture: Channel 7

Veteran journalists and commentators had earlier said the much-hyped interview was simply an expensive puff piece.

Channel 7’s Sunday Night promised a “raw, unfiltered, brutally honest” and “nothing off limits” interview — but there was plenty that was indeed “off limits” and left unanswered.

Veteran political journalist Paul Bongiorno said there was “absolutely no political accountability” from Joyce who declined to answer the real questions — with Cullen repeatedly allowing him to do so.

Sunday Night presenter Alex Cullen has hit back at criticism of his interview. Picture: John Appleyard

“No explanation of the sweetheart deals shunting Vikki around offices with the PM or at least the PMO’s sign off. All at taxpayers’ expense,” he tweeted.

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Lisa Wilkinson, the highest-paid woman in television, also took aim at Cullen’s inability to push the pair for answers.

“The serious political questions remain unanswered,” she said. “None of those issues were addressed. Was that part of the deal, in them agreeing to talk to Sunday Night in the first place?”

Studio 10 host and political commentator Joe Hildebrand also said the interview was way off the mark.

“You saw (Cullen) pulling away ‘oh I don’t want you to name names’. Why not? A journo’s job is to get people to name names,” he said.

“You’ve got an interview that’s entirely personal, doesn’t even touch on any of the legitimate public interest or political issues at play. Serious questions were not answered …”

Originally published as Alex Cullen hits back at critics over Barnaby Joyce tell-all