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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/09/alan-jones-says-he-now-regrets-on-air-tirade-against-sydney-opera-house-boss
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| Alan Jones says he now regrets on-air tirade against Sydney Opera House boss | Alan Jones says he now regrets on-air tirade against Sydney Opera House boss |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Sydney talkback radio host Alan Jones has said he now regrets berating the chief executive of the Sydney Opera House, Louise Herron, on air after she refused to use the building’s sails as a billboard to advertise a horse race. | The Sydney talkback radio host Alan Jones has said he now regrets berating the chief executive of the Sydney Opera House, Louise Herron, on air after she refused to use the building’s sails as a billboard to advertise a horse race. |
| In the extraordinarily aggressive interview on Friday, Jones called for Herron to be sacked. | In the extraordinarily aggressive interview on Friday, Jones called for Herron to be sacked. |
| But on his show on Tuesday morning he said: “I used some words in these programs about the Everest, and the Opera House, and Louise, which in hindsight I now most regret.” | |
| “I don’t believe my words or actions qualify as those of a bully or a misogynist but there are clearly many people who do,” Jones said on 2GB. | |
| “My intention was to deal with the issue about which I feel very passionately and not to bully or demean Louise Herron. | |
| “So to Louise and those people who’ve been offended, I apologise,” he said. | “So to Louise and those people who’ve been offended, I apologise,” he said. |
| Jones and the New South Wales government are facing a backlash in the wake of the interview and the government’s subsequent decision to order the Opera House to display the advertisement for the Everest race. | Jones and the New South Wales government are facing a backlash in the wake of the interview and the government’s subsequent decision to order the Opera House to display the advertisement for the Everest race. |
| Nearly a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling on the state government to reverse its decision. | Nearly a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling on the state government to reverse its decision. |
| The petition organiser, Mike Woodcock, hopes the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, will accept the appeal he started on Friday. | The petition organiser, Mike Woodcock, hopes the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, will accept the appeal he started on Friday. |
| Public outrage over the about-face in favour of the event, dubbed the Everest, mounted at the weekend and into this week with some calling it an “assault” on the World Heritage-listed Australian building. | Public outrage over the about-face in favour of the event, dubbed the Everest, mounted at the weekend and into this week with some calling it an “assault” on the World Heritage-listed Australian building. |
| Woodcock, whose petition on Tuesday morning topped 230,000 signatures, said it would be “awesome” if Berejiklian reversed her decision made in the wake of a phone call from Jones. | Woodcock, whose petition on Tuesday morning topped 230,000 signatures, said it would be “awesome” if Berejiklian reversed her decision made in the wake of a phone call from Jones. |
| “On Friday we saw her accept a single phone call from one person that, you know, has a lot of sway in Sydney, apparently,” he told Nine Network. “It would be great if she also accepted the views of 232,000 other people that are on the other side of this.” | “On Friday we saw her accept a single phone call from one person that, you know, has a lot of sway in Sydney, apparently,” he told Nine Network. “It would be great if she also accepted the views of 232,000 other people that are on the other side of this.” |
| On Monday night, the Chaser staged a stunt projecting a sign onto the Opera House sails saying “advertise here” along with Jones’ personal phone number. | |
| In a video of the stunt posted to Facebook, the satirists tell a security guard who challenges them: “Alan Jones called your boss. Gave her a big talking to. Say Alan called and it’s all fine. | |
| When the security guard tried to prevent them from projecting on to the sails, Chaser member Charles Firth responded: “That’s the biggest billboard in Sydney mate.” | |
| Jones said on Tuesday morning said that the “haters have marshalled themselves”. | |
| “It’s just impossible; there are anonymous phone calls on my phone every minute,” he said. | |
| “Advertise Here”: The Chaser Just Projected Alan Jones’ Phone Number Onto The Opera House https://t.co/oWP70hhmBZ | |
| Earlier on Monday the premier stood by her decision, saying she was “incredibly comfortable” with it despite widespread perceptions she had caved in to Jones, which she denies. | |
| Woodcock’s Change.org petition, which the website says is its “fastest-growing petition” in recent memory, will be delivered to the NSW parliament on Tuesday morning. | Woodcock’s Change.org petition, which the website says is its “fastest-growing petition” in recent memory, will be delivered to the NSW parliament on Tuesday morning. |
| On Tuesday night, the barrier draw for the Everest is due to be projected on the shells of the Opera House from 8pm, alongside a planned protest on the foreshore. | On Tuesday night, the barrier draw for the Everest is due to be projected on the shells of the Opera House from 8pm, alongside a planned protest on the foreshore. |
| A protest organiser, Rachel Evans, said there was “a lot of anger” about the promotion, which she described as an “assault on the Opera House”. Nearly 3,000 people are expected to attend and plan to disrupt the Everest projection with torches and mobile phone lights. | A protest organiser, Rachel Evans, said there was “a lot of anger” about the promotion, which she described as an “assault on the Opera House”. Nearly 3,000 people are expected to attend and plan to disrupt the Everest projection with torches and mobile phone lights. |
| The Everest organiser, Racing NSW, claimed it had received death threats in the wake of furore. NSW Police said on Monday they were not aware of any reported threats. | The Everest organiser, Racing NSW, claimed it had received death threats in the wake of furore. NSW Police said on Monday they were not aware of any reported threats. |
| The Opera House conservation management plan states “the Sydney Opera House exterior, particularly the shells ... should not be regarded as a giant billboard or commercial/advertising opportunity”. | The Opera House conservation management plan states “the Sydney Opera House exterior, particularly the shells ... should not be regarded as a giant billboard or commercial/advertising opportunity”. |
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