Victorian Government push to stop playing Sky News on trains after interview with Blair Cottrell 

The government has been accused of censorship after demanding train stations stop playing Sky News following an interview with Hitler sympathiser Blair Cottrell. 

Victoria’s Transport Minister Jacinta Allan tweeted on Thursday, ‘I’ve directed Metro Trains to remove Sky Newsa from all CBD station screens.’

”Hatred and racism have no place on our screens or in our community. #springst’.

Speaking to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, Ms Allan defended her decision and said screens in train tunnels have been broadcasting Sky News for several years but the Blair Cottrell interview was the ‘final straw’. 

Victoria’s Transport Minister Jacinta Allan has demanded Metro Trains to stop playing Sky News

Hitler sympathiser Blair Cottrell (pictured) appeared on Sky News has been slammed for his comments 

Hitler sympathiser Blair Cottrell (pictured) appeared on Sky News has been slammed for his comments 

Ms Allan tweeted her decision on Thursday morning saying 'hatred and racism have no place on our screens or in our community' 

Ms Allan tweeted her decision on Thursday morning saying ‘hatred and racism have no place on our screens or in our community’ 

‘That interview was unacceptable indeed Sky News themselves admitted it was wrong,’ she said. 

Mr Mitchell slammed the decision calling it a censorship on what the public can see and questioned Ms Allan after she admitted to not seeing the whole interview and only excerpts. 

‘I’m a bit worried about a minister in government making a decision to ban something without having seen it,’ he said. 

‘What gives you the right to be judge of that?,’ he asked. 

Ms Allan explained she had seen excerpts of the interview online and that was enough for her to take a stance and be responsible for what is shown on the screens around public transport.

‘I’ve previously spoke to Metro Train and have been long concerned about the content and quality of what is put on those screens,’ Ms Allan explained.

‘We need to ensure passengers are not bombarded with shocking content.’ 

‘It’s different when you’re government, it is censorship. It’s thought police,’ Mr Mitchell hit back. 

'We need to ensure passengers are not bombarded with shocking content,' Ms Allan said 

‘We need to ensure passengers are not bombarded with shocking content,’ Ms Allan said 

Ms Allan continued to explain how several other companies have also made a decision to enforce the removal of Sky News advertising.

Queensland’s metro service, Trains Link, has also received requests to follow Victoria’s decision.

A member of the public retweeted a story about the Metro Trains decison to remove all Sky News ads quoting, ‘Reckon we can do the same in Brisbane @TrainsLinkSEQ?’

They replied with, ‘I can pass through feedback to the relevant department to have this looked into if you’d like’. 

It comes as nappy brand Huggies, optical chain Specsavers, and Amex Australia announced their termination with advertising on Sky News.

It comes as nappy brand Huggies, optical chain Specsavers, and Amex Australia announced their termination with advertising on Sky News 

It comes as nappy brand Huggies, optical chain Specsavers, and Amex Australia announced their termination with advertising on Sky News 



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