Sacked radio star doubles down on Brittany Higgins comments
Veteran broadcaster Jeremy Cordeaux has defended his on-air comments about Brittany Higgins that led to his sacking, saying he would use similar language with his own daughter.
Cordeaux on Monday was dismissed from his role hosting the weekend breakfast show at Adelaide radio staton FIVEaa after he called alleged rape victim Ms Higgins a "silly girl who got drunk".
"She should have her bottom smacked," he claimed on Saturday, saying she should not have allowed herself to get in "that kind of compromising situation".
Speaking to 7News Adelaide on Monday after his sacking, the 75-year-old doubled down on his comments.
"The advice I give to my own daughter: 'Do not go out and get drunk. Regardless of how well you may know the people around you, do not put yourself in harm's way. Be on guard all the time, don't be a silly little girl'," he said.
Cordeaux once again laid blame on the Parliament House security team for allowing Ms Higgins into the building while intoxicated.
He argued talkback radio is not for sitting on the fence and there was always going to be controversies.
"I have no regrets for what I said," Cordeaux said.
Brittany Higgins responds to Cordeaux's sacking
Ms Higgins responded to the news of Cordeaux's sacking, thanking Nova Entertainment for their decision.
"I politely disagree Mr Cordeaux. No, I do not deserve to have my 'bottom smacked'," she wrote on Twitter.
"This rhetoric isn’t helpful especially given the cultural reckoning about consent that is taking place across the country.
"Instead of seeking to modify the behaviour of victims, let’s try to address how we can deter perpetrators of sexual crimes."
I’m grateful to @NovaEntAU and @1395FIVEaa for standing up for the one in five Australian women who will experience sexual assault in their lifetime.
I politely disagree Mr Cordeaux. No, I do not deserve to have my “bottom smacked”. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/5MQqXWeXud— Brittany Higgins (@BrittHiggins_) March 29, 2021
On Saturday, Cordeaux called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to "stop worrying about offending somebody" and to "call [Ms Higgins' claim] out for what it is".
“If this girl has been raped, why hasn’t the guy who raped her been arrested? Apparently everyone knows his name," he said.
In a statement, Nova Entertainment said Cordeaux's comments were "completely inappropriate and offensive".
Ms Higgins alleges she was raped in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office in 2019 by a colleague.
Her claims have led to a series of alleged incidences of abuse and inappropriate behaviour in parliament coming to light, with Mr Morrison vowing to change the current culture and injustices women face in Canberra and across the nation.
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