Television presenter Deborah Hutton alleges Don Burke sexually harassed her during a visit to her Sydney home during the late 1990s.
Hutton, then a fellow Nine Network personality, says the host of Burke’s Backyard made inappropriate sexual remarks to her as crew members were present at her Bondi beach apartment.
‘We were sitting down on the couch to record the chat and he made some disgusting sexual remark that I couldn’t quite believe at the time and I couldn’t get him out the door quick enough,’ she told The Australian.
Former Nine Network presenter Deborah Hutton alleges Don Burke made a ‘disgusting remark’
Don Burke is accused of making inappropriate remarks to Deborah Hutton at her Bondi home
‘He was a powerful predator.’
The incident is reminiscent of Olympian Susie O’Neill’s allegation about Burke comparing her vagina to a painting during a visit to her Brisbane home in 2000, which led the swimming champion to complain to Nine.
Hutton, who has hosted Looking Good and Location Location on the Nine Network, was a fashion expert at Kerry Packer’s old TV station almost two decades ago when Burke is accused of making that lewd remark.
The former model and editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly said Nine management at the time ‘turned a blind eye’ to Burke’s behaviour because he the TV network’s ‘lifestyle king’.
Olympian Susie O’Neill alleges Don Burke asked if her vagina was as big as a painting on a wall
Deborah Hutton (pictured hosting Location Location on Nine) is the latest woman to allege sexual harassment on the part of Don Burke
Nine Network tycoon Kerry Packer reportedly called Don Burke personally to complain
However, it has been reported that Packer personally called Burke in 2000 after that alleged incident involving O’Neill.
‘You never wanted to be left alone with him, his inappropriate actions around women were widely known,’ she told News Corp.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Burke’s legal team at Kennedy’s lawyers.
Burke, who hosted his own Nine Network program from 1987 to 2004, was with his crew from his CTC Productions company during the alleged incident at Hutton’s home.
Hutton in 2004 made a joint appearance with Burke to promote Renovation Rescue, which was produced by CTC.
Hutton, who turns 56 later this month, is the latest among a string of women to allege Burke, 70, had made inappropriate sexual remarks to them.
They include actress and former singer Tottie Goldsmith and production researchers involved on Burke’s Backyard, which was a Friday night ratings winner for Nine.