Australian PM Calls for Big Brother Cancellation

SYDNEY, July 5: Australian Prime Minister John Howard is
calling on Network Ten to cancel its edition of Big Brother, after a participant on the show alleged that two
male contestants sexually assaulted her.

TEN did not broadcast footage of the event, only showing the
female contestant, Camilla, telling her housemates about the alleged attack.
She reportedly does not plan to press charges against the two men, Ash and
John, who have been evicted from the house. A statement from TEN said that it
and producers Endemol Southern Star “reaffirmed their commitment to the highly
popular television program and confirmed Big Brother adheres to all broadcasting codes of practice and
all relevant rules and regulations. … Big Brother is very popular, as evidenced by the strong and
broad audiences it draws every night of the week, and will remain on air.”

Howard, interviewed on Sydney Radio 2GB, noted, "I
don't like heavy-handed regulation. The business community is always saying to
me, 'let us self regulate.’ Well, here's a great opportunity for Channel 10 to
do a bit of self regulation and get this stupid program off the air."