Health workers disgusted by Chaser

Date: 04 June 2009

Health workers providing care for children with a terminal illness were disgusted by a segment on ABC Television's Chaser program last night, their union representatives said.

Australian Workers' Union Queensland President Garry Ryan said the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the producers and presenters of the program should offer a genuine public apology for the program to the children and families, whose plight they have tried to make fun of.

Nothing funny can be said about these tragedies

"Our members know the heartache of the families who have child with a terminal illness. Our members share this pain. Nothing can be said about these tragedies that is funny.

" There is no humour in the illness, pain and death of a child," he said.

Widespread revulsion

"We have many members, not just working in healthcare, who have suffered through the tragedy of losing a child to illness. This is an insult to all of them."

"We respect the right of people to freely express their views, but the Chaser stunt was offensive. Our members are disgusted."

"The most appropriate thing for the ABC and Chaser program to do is to admit it was a mistake and sincerely apologise to the families."

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For further information

Contact:	Jim Wilson
Union:	AWU Queensland
Contact Mobile:	0419 765 952.
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au/

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