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imastawka · ‎27-11-2017

Don Burke's program Burke's Backyard was a ratings juggernaut for Channel Nine before it was cancelled in 2004.

For almost two decades Don Burke was one of the most powerful men in Australia's entertainment industry. His popular gardening program Burke's Backyard was a ratings juggernaut for the Nine Network until it was unceremoniously axed in 2004.

But now a major Fairfax Media/ABC investigation can reveal that behind the scenes those who worked with Burke claim he was a "psychotic bully", a "misogynist" and a "sexual predator" who indecently assaulted, sexually harassed and bullied a string of female employees.

"He was a vile, vile human being," said Bridget Ninness, a former producer on Burke's Backyard, who later launched legal action against Burke for psychological abuse. "He was lewd and he was crude" and his constant talk of sex was "designed to confront you and to demean you", she said.

Louise Langdon, a former researcher, was subjected to ongoing harassment by Burke which included trying to remove her top, and on another occasion Burke "put his foot into my rear end, with the view to checking the tone of my ... my backside". He then stated that the firmness of her "backside" wasn't "up to scratch".

"I loathed him, he was just a pig. He was lecherous and sinister," said another former researcher who alleges she was indecently assaulted by Burke.

Even David Leckie, the former chief executive of the Nine Network, said he wasn't surprised to receive our call about Burke. "I've been trying to think of Harvey Weinstein-type people [in Australia] and the only one I can ever come up with is Burke. He was a horrible, horrible man," he said.

Unlike Weinstein, Burke is not accused of rape, but the more than 50 people interviewed during this investigation have made serious allegations about Burke's actions.

"Don Burke was a disgrace because of his behaviour internally and externally," said Sam Chisholm, Leckie's predecessor at Nine.

More here -

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/a-high-grade-twisted-abuser-don-burke-a-sexual-harasser-and...

davidc4430 · ‎01-12-2017

did all this start with a woman complaining she was whistled at by some random tradie as she walked past a work site in the sydney CBD some years ago?

or that she didn't get whistled at and her friend was?

so the masses said thats not ok, you stop that whistling you neanderthals!

lets face it, a lot of us menfolk havent moved far from the neanderthals with our behaviour when it comes to women.

put us in a group and give us a couple of beers and its grunt grunt i want woman i get woman.

i'm pretty sure it goes on in every pub, club and sporting event thats held.

not saying its ok, just thats how a huge part of the male population behave.

i wonder how many happily married couples would not have got past their first meeting if the guy hadnt said or done something really much like what mr burke is being acused of.

its really sad we now see someone like mr rush being pointed at.

whiznumber6 · ‎01-12-2017

@not_for_sale2017 wrote:
I wonder how long it's going to take before a male or a female comes forward to complain about sexual harassment or abuse by a woman? Will some commenters have the same passion and 'string em up' attitude, or will excuses be given to justify and condone their behaviour. One thing's for certain, it will be interesting.

Most men would stay quiet, believing that they'd ridiculed - "You were bullied by a woman? What sort of man are you?", etc.

not_for_sale2025 · ‎01-12-2017

@whiznumber6 wrote:

Most men would stay quiet, believing that they'd ridiculed - "You were bullied by a woman? What sort of man are you?", etc.

Yep, that's why I queried how long it will take for a male or 'female' to come forward. But I think it will happen and will fully throw open the issues.

lyndal1838 · ‎01-12-2017

@davidc4430 wrote:

I wonder how many happily married couples would not have got past their first meeting if the guy hadnt said or done something really much like what mr burke is being acused of.

its really sad we now see someone like mr rush being pointed at.

If any of my boyfriends had behaved the way Don Burke is accused of behaving we would not have even got through that first date.

Surprisingly, my first husband was in the Navy when we met and I admit to wondering what our first date would be like....he was probably the best mannered of all my boyfriends.

As for Geoffrey Rush.....I would really like to hear more about this. He is supposed to have committed the offense on stage, in front of an audience. How bad could it have been if the audience did not notice anything. And it is a disgrace that the accuser can have her privacy protected....and not even disclose what "supposedly" happened before making it public. Something stinks there.

davidc4430 · ‎01-12-2017

@lyndal1838 wrote:
@davidc4430 wrote:

I wonder how many happily married couples would not have got past their first meeting if the guy hadnt said or done something really much like what mr burke is being acused of.

its really sad we now see someone like mr rush being pointed at.
If any of my boyfriends had behaved the way Don Burke is accused of behaving we would not have even got through that first date.

Surprisingly, my first husband was in the Navy when we met and I admit to wondering what our first date would be like....he was probably the best mannered of all my boyfriends.

As for Geoffrey Rush.....I would really like to hear more about this. He is supposed to have committed the offense on stage, in front of an audience. How bad could it have been if the audience did not notice anything. And it is a disgrace that the accuser can have her privacy protected....and not even disclose what "supposedly" happened before making it public. Something stinks there.
i have listened to several long married ladys tell me how when they first met their mr perfect he was anything but, and how it took years to iron out the pig element.

not saying thats every womans story but its an often told one.

lyndal1838 · ‎01-12-2017

That may apply to some couples David, but I would never have taken the chance.

If he was not exactly what I wanted when I married him I would never have gone through with it.

domino-710 · ‎01-12-2017

I can quite honestly say I have not had a 'pig ' in my life.

davidc4430 · ‎01-12-2017

its pretty normal to hear 'chicks dig bad boys'

lyndal1838 · ‎01-12-2017

Well this old chook didn't dig bad boys even when she was still a chick.

But I did learn a very comprehensive vocabulary when I lived on a Navy base....my OH once told me that I could make a sailor blush if I set my mind to it. To the best of my knowledge I only did it once when a young sailor was trying to shock me....the boot very quickly went on the other foot.