Elite private school to monitor Karl Stefanovic keynote talk
TV and media personality Karl Stefanovic is scheduled as Prince Alfred Old Collegians' guest speaker. Photo: PAC
The future of Karl Stefanovic’s planned guest appearance at an elite Adelaide private school old-scholar event is up in the air following the fallout from his controversial podcast episode.
Stefanovic was announced as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Prince Alfred Old Collegians Association (PAOCA) old-scholars dinner earlier this month – before the airing of a podcast interview with far-fight British activist Tommy Robinson that has now led to his axing as host of Channel Nine’s Today show.
“This year, we are delighted to welcome acclaimed television presenter and journalist Karl Stefanovic as our guest speaker,” said the PAOCA’s June 1 Facebook post about the July 31 event at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
“Now, with The Karl Stefanovic Show podcast, he’s stepping into conversation too bold, too honest and too unfiltered for traditional TV. Nothing’s off limits!”
When announced, one commenter on social media said, “What a disgraceful choice for speaker”, with another agreeing, saying, “Gentlemen, you are better than this”.
It is understood PAOCA has been monitoring the situation this week, but has yet to decide on removing Stefanovic as the guest speaker.
Stefanovic has declared “I’m free” after the Nine Network confirmed on Friday that he had been axed “effective immediately” after his podcast with Robinson.
Nine newspapers reported on Friday that an email had informed staff it was “the right time for Karl to move on from the Today show and Nine”.
Each year, the PAOCA’s event features a notable guest speaker, with the 2025 event featuring former Australian Football League CEO and current CEO of wagering company Tabcorp Gillon McLachlan.
Stefanovic’s recent interview with Robinson on an almost one-hour episode of The Karl Stefanovic Show, which he launched in January, was removed from social media sites on Wednesday morning. However, it was republished by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson on YouTube.
Robinson is the co-founder of the far-right English Defence League movement and has served five prison terms since 2005 for crimes including assault, fraud and contempt of court.
Channel Nine has emphasised that The Karl Stefanovic Show is “a completely independent production” in which it has no involvement.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who featured on an episode of the podcast earlier this year, said on ABC Radio on Thursday morning that he would not feature on Stefanovic’s podcast again.
“The Tommy Robinson thing, I think, crosses the line. When I saw the reports during the week that he was interviewing Tommy Robinson, that made me cringe,” Malinauskas said.
The Premier said it would not deter him from doing interviews with people he disagrees with.
“If I only said yes to interviews from people who I thought agreed with me, I’m then contributing to the problem of polarisation rather than confronting it,” he said.
“I just don’t see a world where the only people who agree with each other does any good.”
–InDaily
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