2GB terminates Chris Smith’s contract after Christmas party incident

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News Corp-controlled Sky News has not publicly announced whether Smith will return to the news channel following an investigation into his alleged behaviour. “The welfare of our staff is our absolute priority. We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate conduct and take these allegations very seriously,” a Sky News spokesperson said on Sunday.

But the channel’s high-profile hosts Panahi and Bolt made it clear overnight they did not want him to return.

“What he did on Saturday night, how he made a number of women feel, means that in my opinion he can never be on this network again,” Panahi told her viewers.

Bolt said that he wished Smith all the best with his recovery, but that he should be sacked.

“I am stunned that Chris still does drink at parties,” Bolt said. “That is a choice that Chris made and that is what I hold against him.”

Smith has behaved poorly previously.

He was suspended indefinitely from his afternoon show on 2GB in 2009 for allegedly groping female colleagues at the Christmas party of Macquarie Radio (now Nine Radio). He blamed the 2009 incident on drinking and drugs and ran an apology in The Sunday Telegraph which said he had bipolar disorder. When he was working with A Current Affair, Smith exposed himself to staff and on another occasion fondled a woman’s breasts.

On his 2GB program this morning, presenter and former colleague Ray Hadley said he agreed with Bolt.

“What happened at the Christmas party last weekend is not wokeness. He was sacked in 2009 for his performance at a Christmas party – I don’t think he should ever return to our network,” Hadley said.

“Unfortunately, he did, but I’d be very surprised if he ever returns anywhere ever again. The radio and television industry won’t be poorer for him…leaving it. Young women should be protected. They shouldn’t be going to Christmas parties and being monstered by drunken fools. I have no sympathy for him.”

His most recent misconduct occurred after Sky News’ Christmas Party at after-party drinks. However, it was the third News Corp event that Smith had attended in just three days which involved alcohol.

Smith was among the crowd at Lachlan Murdoch’s Christmas party on Thursday evening, and he was also an attendee of an intimate dinner of Sky News hosts held at ARIA on Friday night where he was praised for his work, according to multiple people familiar with the event. Smith attended the Sky News Christmas Party in the Ivy Sunroom, before heading to the Establishment with other colleagues. He was seen leaving the city at about 7.30pm.

Media sources said concerns about Smith’s behaviour on Saturday were raised with senior members of the Sky News executive team and were dealt with immediately.