Radio stalwart John-Michael Howson fires parting shot after being sacked from 3AW

CONTROVERSIAL broadcaster John-Michael Howson has fired parting shots — and refused to back down from his “bongo land” comments — after being sacked by 3AW.

CONTROVERSIAL broadcaster John-Michael Howson has fired parting shots — and refused to back down from his “bongo land” comments — after being sacked by 3AW.

With his exit announced by 3AW bosses on Friday, Howson emailed Confidential to say listeners liked what he said.

“It seems from the scores of comments sent to the station and received by me since my departure most people actually liked what I said,” he told Confidential.

“People were happy to hear one voice that was not silenced by the PC totalitarianism that is stifling our democracy and freedoms.”

Howson, a co-host and commentator on 3AW’s top-rating Sunday Morning program, was never far from the headlines.

Red Symons dumped from ABC radio show

Neil Mitchell lashes John-Michael Howson for ‘stupid’ comments

John-Michael Howson. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

He sparked outrage with an on-air comment last month suggesting anti-coal campaigners jump in front of a tram or take rat poison.

Last year Howson said Apex gang members should go “back to bongo land” and in 2015 he verbally abused co-presenter Nick McCallum before throwing sexist insults at a female producer.

In 2012 he was suspended for taunting Julian Assange’s mother with a Nazi slogan.

On Friday, 3AW said in a statement John-Michael Howson and station management had agreed to part ways starting this week.

“We thank John-Michael for his work. From social commentary to theatre reviews, his style wasn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, but it was always compelling radio,” the statement read.

John-Michael Howson with his puppies Suzie and Sally. Picture: Norm Oorloff

In his email to Confidential, Howson reiterated his comments about deporting violent criminals from other countries.

“I still believe people who come this country and abuse the generosity of this nation by committing serious or violent crimes should be sent back to their countries of origin, including bongo land,” he said.

“The listeners were 100 per cent in agreement on that one.”

Howson said through out his career he had copped homophobic slurs from media figures “who now make much of their homo-sympathies — it’s the current fashion — but couldn’t wait to twist the corkscrew.”

He added: “Not that I cared, because I am a man and not a wilting snowflake that melts when insulted. I have Teflon coating on my skin.”

Red Symons will not return to the airwaves in 2018.

Howson said: “It’s been a great 60 years (as an entertainment reporter and journalist). It’s been tough at times but it’s always been fun. That’s what kept me going and I’m still laughing.”

Howson wasn’t the only casualty in the great radio shake up this week.

Red Symons, the long-time breakfast show host on ABC Radio Melbourne, will not return to the airwaves in 2018.

Sources said ABC bosses were keen to “shuffle” its presenters and feature Symons “somewhere else” on the station.

ABC management presented the offer to Symons earlier this week, but he decided to leave.