SBS says a sports presenter who made highly inappropriate comments about diggers was fired because audiences could no longer respect or trust him.

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The multicultural broadcaster on Sunday sacked football journalist Scott McIntyre for a series of tweets on Anzac Day that Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull described as “despicable”.

The cultification of an imperialist invasion of a foreign nation that Australia had no quarrel with is against all ideals of modern society.

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

Wonder if the poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers pause today to consider the horror that all mankind suffered.

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

Remembering the summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these ‘brave’ Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan.

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

Not forgetting that the largest single-day terrorist attacks in history were committed by this nation & their allies in Hiroshima & Nagasaki

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

Innocent children, on the way to school, murdered. Their shadows seared into the concrete of Hiroshima. pic.twitter.com/DQOGXiKxEb

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

SBS managing director Michael Ebeid on Sunday labelled the remarks inappropriate and disrespectful, saying they breached the broadcaster’s code of conduct and social media policy.

“It’s not tenable to remain on air if your audience doesn’t respect or trust you,” he said.

Besides causing outrage on social media, the tweets also caught the eye of the minister, who said it was difficult to think of anything more offensive or inappropriate.

“Despicable remarks which deserve to be condemned,” Mr Turnbull tweeted.

While the minister was unavailable for comment following McIntyre’s sacking, his Liberal colleague Jamie Briggs applauded the decision, saying the comments went beyond being offensive.

However, some criticised SBS for firing McIntyre, including journalist Hugh Riminton, who is also a board member of Soldier On, an organisation that supports injured soldiers.

Riminton said the tweets were untimely, immature and in one case offensively wrong.

“But lest we forget, Our Diggers also died for free speech,” he said.

Human rights commissioner Tim Wilson said McIntyre’s freedom of speech was not being curtailed.

“We’re talking about political interpretations of history and that is open for debate,” Mr Wilson said.

“And he will be judged very harshly.”

-AAP