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Sunday Night backdown as Seven issues retraction to SA Premier

Seven issued a retraction to SA Premier Mike Rann -as a quick text and voice-over ad without any acknowledgement from Sunday Night hosts.

Channel Seven last night issued a statement after its bombshell story on Sunday Night last November, in which it claimed former parliamentary waitress Michelle Chantelois said she had a sexual relationship with South Australian Premier Mike Rann.

The story by reporter Mark Riley made headlines around the country last year, but was blasted by Rann who denied having sex with the woman. He indicated he would sue both Channel Seven and New Idea magazine over the “ridiculous” claims by Chantelois’ paid interview.

Last night Seven aired a 46-second, six sentence retraction during a commercial break in Sunday Night.

It noted:

“Seven Network acknowledges the Premier of South Australia’s statement in response to its Sunday Night program last year which featured an interview with Michelle Chantelois and in particular his denial that he engaged in sexual intercourse with Ms Chantelois.

“Seven Network retracts any implication in the story that the Premier exploited his friendship with Ms Chantelois and acknowledges that he had no involvement in her employment or the cessation of her employment with a South Australian public school.

“Seven also acknowledges that neither the Premier’s friendship with Ms Chantelois, nor the subject matter of the story have any bearing on the Premier’s role or performance as Premier.

“Seven regrets any embarrassment caused to the Premier or his family by the broadcast of the story.

“As the Premier has instituted legal proceedings over the program, Seven has agreed to pay his reasonable costs in settlement.

“No damages were sought.”

After such a huge story last year, Seven’s retraction ran simply as text and voice-over.

Neither Mike Munro, Chris Bath or especially Mark Riley participated in the statement, while no mention of the issue was made in the show, which has been showcased as the network’s flagship current affairs programme.

Some media have also noted there was no full apology for the story, nor any retraction of the claims made about an affair.

The statement is also not yet published on the Sunday Night website, while any clips, transcripts and blogs on the original story are absent from its archives.

9 Responses

  1. That statement says nothing about the affair being untrue – just states that it didn’t affect his role as premier. Read it carefully. From those words – and I missed the show last night – the original story stands.

  2. What a terrible show, they had a whole pointless segment on the Arc of The Covenant. The fact that nobody could see it for the pathetic reason that they could be incinerated was enough to have the story thrown in the bin or not even followed up to begin with. At least Four Corners would have tried to sneak in hidden cameras or find someone who could refute such ridiculous claims. I will never watch Sunday Night ever again.

  3. Perhaps next week they can apologise for the crap that was supposed to pass for investigative journalism last night. Raiders of the Lost Arc and virgin footy players… What next… Rahni Sadler in Greece searching for unicorns?

  4. It’s not an apology for doing the story just for suggesting it’s affected his role as Premier. Which is fair enough cos he was a terrible Premier before this happened.

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