SEN boss doubles down on sacking journo over Gaza posts

SEN boss Craig Hutchison has spoken out for the first over the decision to axe a prominent journalist over his social media activity.

SEN boss Craig Hutchison has doubled down on the decision to sack veteran cricket broadcaster and prominent journalist Peter Lalor.

Lalor was let go after station management took exception to his social media activity.

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The journalist’s X feed includes re-posts of news stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza, and followed the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, which reportedly made management and listeners uncomfortable.

Lalor was informed on the final morning of Australia’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle that his services were no longer required.

In a statement, Hutchison said that Lalor would be leaving the network due to “differing views”.

A week on from the decision, Hutchison stood by the call to part ways with Lalor.

“To anyone who’s misinterpreted that reason for my decision, it was me, I apologise for any offence caused, but I stand behind the decision,’’ he said The Sounding Board podcast.

“What I would say is, we live in a very sensitive time in a community that, there’s so many sections of the community that are hurting and going through lots. And I want to be really respectful of everyone in that community. It is a more difficult time than it’s ever been in Australian life.”

Hutchy made the call to part ways with Lalor. Pic: Sam D'Agostino

It was Lalor’s social media activity that ruffled feathers. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

The SEN boss said Lalor‘s freelance contract had expired but they had kept him on for the ongoing Sri Lanka series.

When it became clear he was unwilling to change his social media approach, Hutchison made the call to let him go.

“His freelance contract with us expired on the 31st of January, but we knew he was in Sri Lanka, so we agreed to extend that opportunity for some commentary shifts in the series,’’ Hutchison said.

“At the start of the series, near and overlapping the series, some of his recent republication on social media platform X, offended some of our audience. That ranged from Gaza related content, but also retweets of memes featuring Nazi-related imagery that was unrelated to the conflict in Gaza, and some other things.

Lalor was reportedly unwilling to change his approach on social media. Picture: Nikki Short

“Pete told me that his method on X … was to mostly share content generated by others that he felt needed to be seen, or re-posting, or retweeting, without necessarily offering comment on that material himself.

“I discussed with Pete that (his) retweeting could be misinterpreted, and the possibilities of members of the community could be offended by the retweeting.”

Hutchison added: “And now we have a clear position for all employees, including in Pete’s freelance agreement in our social media policy.”

On Tuesday evening Lalor responded to the remarks made by Hutchison on his podcast, expressing his disappointment and what the SEN boss had conveyed.

“The implication he makes in the podcast is misleading and disappointing,” Lalor said.

Usman Khawaja was not happy with the network. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Khawaja labelled the decision as “unbelievable”. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

SEN’s decision to sack Lalor was met with fierce backlash from Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja.

Khawaja spoke out in support of Lalor, labelling his dismissal “unbelievable”, and sharing the journalist’s statement on his Instagram.

“Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja said.

“It has everything to do with justice and human rights.

“Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist.

“Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.”

Australia wrapped up the Test series in Sri Lanka with comfortable victories across both Tests.

Originally published as SEN boss doubles down on sacking journo over Gaza posts