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Peter Lalor dropped by Australian radio station SEN for pro-Palestinian social posts

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Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @peterjlalor

Australian radio station SEN has parted ways with veteran cricket journalist Peter Lalor over his social media activity regarding the war in Gaza. The decision came during Australia’s Test series against Sri Lanka, with Lalor being informed of his dismissal on the final morning of the first Test by SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison.

Lalor, formerly the chief cricket writer at The Australian and a longtime freelance commentator for SEN, had been posting about the conflict on X, sharing news of Israeli attacks on Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. 

He later revealed in a statement that he received two calls from senior SEN management during the third day of the Galle Test and was officially informed the next morning that he would no longer be working for the station.

“I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic, which I strongly objected to,” Lalor stated. 

“I was told my retweeting was not balanced and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.”

“I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison, who was civil, if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe. I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe. Of course, I care. I have friends who are frightened and have heard the fear in their voices during conversations. It is an awful situation, but so is Gaza.”

“The following day, Hutchinson told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’, I could not cover the cricket for them anymore,” Lalor said in his statement.

“I will continue to have sympathy for the suffering of the Palestinian people just as I will continue to be appalled by acts of antisemitism and terrorism,” he added.

Hutchison later defended SEN’s decision, stating that while Lalor was respected as a journalist, the station had to acknowledge the fear many families in the community were feeling. “SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world,” he said.

The move has sparked backlash from fans and commentators, with some calling for a boycott of SEN. Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja was among those who publicly supported Lalor. 

“Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja posted on Instagram. “Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.”

Lalor, who also writes and podcasts for Cricket Et Al, has remained vocal about his stance. “I cannot remain quiet when so many innocent people are being slaughtered,” he wrote. “The majority of my retweeted posts have been about the sufferings of Palestinians. The asymmetry of my retweeting reflects the asymmetry of the suffering.”

Online reactions have been divided. Some critics accused SEN of silencing journalists for political reasons, while others defended the decision. Many have pointed to Lalor’s case as an example of corporate cancel culture, arguing that journalists should not be restricted to reporting solely on their areas of expertise.

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