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Travel industry boss faces calls for resignation after saying Tracy Grimshaw needed 'a firm upper cut or a slap' Travel industry boss resigns after saying Tracy Grimshaw needed 'a firm upper cut or a slap'
(about 1 hour later)
Jayson Westbury apologises for comments about the host of A Current Affair during a webinar Jayson Westbury apologised for comments about the host of A Current Affair made during a webinar but board says comments were unacceptable
The chief executive of the peak body for travel agents has apologised for saying A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw “needs to be given a firm uppercut or a slap across the face” but he is still facing calls for his resignation. The chief executive of the peak body for travel agents has resigned after widespread condemnation over his call for A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw “to be given a firm uppercut or a slap across the face”.
Jayson Westbury, the chief executive of the Australian Travel Agents Association, made the comments during an industry webinar discussing coverage of the industry’s failure to refund travel during Covid-19. The board of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents said chief executive Jayson Westbury’s “inappropriate and unacceptable” comments were at odds with the views of the travel industry and he had resigned.
“His choice of words cannot be condoned,” AFTA chairman Tom Manwaring said. “His work history stands in good stead for the service he has provide the travel industry and AFTA’s members.”
Westbury made the comments during an industry webinar discussing coverage of the industry’s failure to refund travel during Covid-19.
“I won’t ever be watching it [A Current Affair] again,” Westbury told travel agent members in the video posted online and first reported by the Age and Sydney Morning Herald. “I think that Tracy Grimshaw needs to be given a firm uppercut or a slap across the face, and I mean that virtually, of course, I wouldn’t want to invoke any violence on anyone.”“I won’t ever be watching it [A Current Affair] again,” Westbury told travel agent members in the video posted online and first reported by the Age and Sydney Morning Herald. “I think that Tracy Grimshaw needs to be given a firm uppercut or a slap across the face, and I mean that virtually, of course, I wouldn’t want to invoke any violence on anyone.”
Grimshaw, whose program has recorded an interview with Westbury to be shown on Wednesday night, said it was the sort of bad language and bad behaviour that was no longer acceptable.Grimshaw, whose program has recorded an interview with Westbury to be shown on Wednesday night, said it was the sort of bad language and bad behaviour that was no longer acceptable.
“I think he could have chosen better words couldn’t he?” Grimshaw said in an interview with Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell. “It’s not the sort of language that flies these days.“I think he could have chosen better words couldn’t he?” Grimshaw said in an interview with Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell. “It’s not the sort of language that flies these days.
“You can’t get away with that stuff. It’s bad behaviour; it’s bad language and you can’t talk that way about women. And the sooner blokes like Jayson Westbury realise that, the better.”“You can’t get away with that stuff. It’s bad behaviour; it’s bad language and you can’t talk that way about women. And the sooner blokes like Jayson Westbury realise that, the better.”
Author and broadcaster Tracey Spicer said his comments were reprehensible and he should be stood down. “Words matter,” Spicer said. “We know from longstanding and peer-reviewed research that language like this contributes to a society that tolerates violence, especially against women.” Author and broadcaster Tracey Spicer said his comments were reprehensible and welcomed his resignation. “Words matter,” Spicer said. “We know from longstanding and peer-reviewed research that language like this contributes to a society that tolerates violence, especially against women.”
The Older Women’s Network said comments like Westbury’s were the reason it was difficult to stamp out violence against women.The Older Women’s Network said comments like Westbury’s were the reason it was difficult to stamp out violence against women.
“As the industry’s leader, he is paid to represent the interests of travel agents,” the lobby group said. “Unless they support violence against women, this man has to be stood down. We deplore violence against women in any way, shape or form.”“As the industry’s leader, he is paid to represent the interests of travel agents,” the lobby group said. “Unless they support violence against women, this man has to be stood down. We deplore violence against women in any way, shape or form.”
On the travel agents’ Facebook page, users were calling for the chief executive to resign and saying his apology was inadequate. “Sack the executive,’” one woman said. “Condemn his violent talk. Just revolting …”On the travel agents’ Facebook page, users were calling for the chief executive to resign and saying his apology was inadequate. “Sack the executive,’” one woman said. “Condemn his violent talk. Just revolting …”
Westbury was angry about a report on A Current Affair when he made his comments on an industry forum, which was posted online last week and then removed after the audio was publicised.Westbury was angry about a report on A Current Affair when he made his comments on an industry forum, which was posted online last week and then removed after the audio was publicised.
“But, I mean, some of the behaviour and some of the language that’s being used on that program is just outrageous,” he said.“But, I mean, some of the behaviour and some of the language that’s being used on that program is just outrageous,” he said.
“We are doing what we can from the point of view of talking with their producers and various reporters.”“We are doing what we can from the point of view of talking with their producers and various reporters.”
“The best thing to do for A Current Affair is just to stop watching. I’ve personally boycotted it, won’t be ever watching it again.”“The best thing to do for A Current Affair is just to stop watching. I’ve personally boycotted it, won’t be ever watching it again.”
After the backlash, the video was taken down from YouTube and Westbury apologised in a statement posted on the association’s website. A spokeswoman said he was unavailable for further comment. After the backlash, the video was taken down from YouTube and Westbury apologised in a statement posted on the association’s website but did not immediately resign.
“My comments relating to Ms Grimshaw involved a very poor choice of words,” he said. “I apologise for that choice and accept the language used was completely inappropriate.” “My comments relating to Ms Grimshaw involved a very poor choice of words,” he said on Wednesday morning. “I apologise for that choice and accept the language used was completely inappropriate.”
A scheduled interview with ACA reporter Brady Hall, arranged before the program was aware of his comments, went ahead and Westbury apologised again, Channel Nine told Guardian Australia.A scheduled interview with ACA reporter Brady Hall, arranged before the program was aware of his comments, went ahead and Westbury apologised again, Channel Nine told Guardian Australia.
By 5pm the board had announced his resignation.