Ray Hadley

Ray Hadley
Born 1954
Paddington, Sydney
Occupation Talkback radio broadcaster
TV personality
Spouse(s) Suzanne (separated)
Children 4
Website rayhadley.com.au

Raymond Morris Hadley OAM (born 1954) is an Australian talkback radio broadcaster and a rugby league football commentator for Channel Nine. He presents 2GB Sydney's Monday to Friday morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team, a rugby league-based talkback radio panel program.

Early life

Ray Hadley was born in 1954[1]and raised in a "housing commission house in Dundas Valley" Sydney but later went to live with his grandparents on an Eungai Rail farm on the mid north coast of New South Wales.[2]

While working as a cab driver, he was offered casual work at the radio station 2UE after giving the then news director, Mark Collier, a ride in his taxi.[2] By 1982, he was covering sports including rugby league and horseracing.[3]

Radio career

2GB

In December 2001, Hadley joined 2GB to present the weekend rugby league coverage but when fellow 2UE presenter Alan Jones moved to 2GB from 2UE in April 2002, he began presenting the morning show as well.[4]

Hadley's talkback show started in a traditional local community and state-based current affairs format but now includes federal politics. His favourite music genre is country (both traditional and modern). Hadley's opening theme is "Murrumbidgee" by The Wolverines, while the closing theme is the instrumental "Last Date" from country pianist Floyd Cramer.

Hadley's program from 9am to midday is also broadcast to stations across rural New South Wales, Queensland and parts of Victoria and through Canberra station 2CC. These stations are part of the Southern Cross network and are some of the stations which also broadcast the Continuous Call Team.

In May 2011 he became the highest-rating radio announcer on Australian radio with 20.1% of the audience, until being beaten by the top rating Ross and John breakfast program on opposite number 3AW in Melbourne a year later.[5]

On 19 May 2011 Hadley hung up on Seven News reporter Lee Jeloscek during a phone interview. Hadley took offence that Jeloscek wanted to correct something he asserted was suggested on-air before the interview began, and Hadley cut off Jeloscek mid-sentence telling his listeners: No hang on. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Listen! Listen! Listen! Listen to me! Listen to me! Listen to me! Goodbye Lee. You seem to forget, Lee, it's the Ray Hadley morning program...[6]

Awards

Hadley has been named the best Radio Sports Broadcaster at the "Rawards" for 8 out of the past 11 years, and was awarded an Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday 2002 Honours List for services to rugby league and fund-raising initiatives for charitable organisations[7].

Hadley won an accolade at the 2006 ACRAs (also known as the RAWARDS) for "Best Current Affairs Presenter". He won that award again 2009 and became the first radio broadcaster to win both that award and best sports commentator. He has won 20 major ACRA Radio awards since 1987[3].

Television

After commencing as a sports reporter on Channel 7, Hadley was recruited to Channel 9 as part of The Footy Show, along with his radio and rugby league colleague Steve "Blocker" Roach, appearing between 1994 and 1998. He also made a one-off appearance on The Footy Show in 2005 in a forum to discuss brawling and antagonism between Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs supporters during a game against the Brisbane Broncos at Telstra Stadium. Hadley has also appeared in TV commercials, and for 17 years was spruiking the budget menswear establishment Lowes.

During 2010, he appeared on The Matty Johns Show on the Seven Network, an NRL-focused programme hosted by Matthew Johns.

Also in 2010, Hadley was signed by Sky News Australia to present a weekly current affairs programme entitled Hadley!. The programme aired on Wednesday nights. ,[8] Hadley resigned from Sky News Australia after only four episodes, reportedly due to "differences" and staff not wanting to work with him.

In October 2011, Hadley was signed up by Channel 9 to commentate on the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks but was not invited to return.

In 2012, he returned to The Footy Show as a panellist on the Five in the Bin segment, commentating alongside Peter Sterling and Paul Vautin on Channel 9's rugby league coverage.[9]

Controversies

Australian Communications and Media Authority

Hadley has been repeatedly censured by the ACMA for a range of offences. In 2012, Hadley threatened a protester outside 2GB's premises and later broadcast the protester's name and address on air. It emerged during the investigation that Hadley had got the man’s address wrong, instead broadcasting the address of somebody with the same name. The ACMA found against Hadley, finding he breached privacy regulations.[10]

On 25 June 2012, Hadley broadcast a fabricated story stating that school children visiting Parliament would no longer be given snacks because of budget cuts. When the story was denied by the then Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan, Hadley called Swan a liar, stating Swan was "complete boofhead that didn't know what was happening".[11] Despite repeated requests to retract the story, Hadley refused to do so and was found in breach of the code. Despite clear evidence, Hadley continued to deny that he had lied, stating on air, "Through life you can't win in an argument with the arbiter, with the referee and I can't win in a battle with the Australian Communications and Media Authority despite the fact that I think I'm right," [12]

Athens Olympics

In 2004, Hadley was recorded in the middle of an outburst aimed at now-former 2GB news director Justin Kelly at the 2004 Athens Olympics, after Hadley's call of an event at the Games was not used in a news bulletin. His use of the words "fucking spastic" [2] offended organisations that deal with people which such conditions, and Ray made a quick apology and offered his services to the organisations affected for no charge. Also during the outburst, the profane word "fucking" was used 20 times.

A dance version of the outburst was soon created and played on Triple J and soon widely distributed and played around the country.

Suspension and reinstatement

In February 2013, Hadley was suspended from 2GB after verbally abusing an employee, who recorded the event.[13] Hadley responded to the suspension by contacting the station major shareholder and close friend, John Singleton, demanding to be returned to the air.[14] Singleton agreed and overruled Network managing director Rob Loewenthal.[15] Following this, Hadley gathered 2GB staff into a boardroom, apologised for his behaviour, repeatedly breaking down in tears.[16] Hadley's ratings dropped considerably following the release of details of the suspension.[17] The employee in question sued Hadley, [18]and the case was later settled out of court for an "undisclosed sum", the settlement including an agreement that the recording of Hadley's outburst be suppressed.[19]

Martin Place siege

In February 2015, Hadley claimed on his show that he could have stopped the siege, saying "If me a broadcaster had spoken louder about the three bail decisions on Man Monis, lives would have been saved."[20]

Andrew Voss

In August, 2011, a statue of rugby league caller, Ray Warren, co-funded by Ray Hadley's radio station, 2GB, and Channel 9, was unveiled.[21] Andrew Voss, noted on Channel 9 rugby league chat show, The Sunday Roast, that the statue was not a very good likeness. Ray Hadley used his radio show for the two days following the comments to launch attacks on Voss, labelling him a "grub of the highest order", a "moron", and claiming that the gulf between Ray Warren and Andrew Voss, both as commentators and as men, was immeasurable.[21] It was claimed by Voss that Hadley's reaction was due to a perceived snub 17 years earlier when Voss was offered a television role over Hadley.[22]

Voss launched legal action against Hadley which was settled in 2012, with Voss receiving a financial settlement and public apology from Hadley.[23]

Greg Smith

In April and May 2012, Ray Hadley, on his 2GB radio program, made allegations about then New South Wales Attorney General, Greg Smith, that he gave advice to his friend, Father Finian Egan, that an alleged victim of child sex abuse perpetrated by Egan in the 1970s and 1980s was seeking a $1,000,000 payment.[24] Smith took Hadley to court, with both parties later dropping the case in exchange for Hadley refraining to broadcast further on the matter.[25]

MP Ray Williams

Hadley was successfully sued by Liberal Hawkesbury MP Ray Williams. In July 2012 Hadley branded Williams a liar in a fabricated story over a scandal involving allegations of embezzled funds at the Hills Shire. Hadley falsely claimed Williams had known about it as far back as 2008 and covered it up. Three weeks before the trial was due to start, Hadley allegedly aggravated the defamation in a spray about another Liberal MP, Bart Bassett, and his appearance at ICAC. This prompted Williams' barrister, one of Sydney's most formidable silks, Tom Blackburn, SC, to file a contempt of court motion, given that the spray had occurred as a jury was about to be empanelled. Hadley told his audience he looked "forward to any Supreme Court acting involving Mr Williams or any other politician in New South Wales. It might be the only time in history that a so-called shock jock's credibility is running higher than a politician's credibility". The defamation trial was due to begin on Monday just passed (8 September) at 10am. At the 11th hour, the parties sought an adjournment and a settlement was reached. On Wednesday morning Hadley issued a retraction, which he delivered live to air. Williams said the terms of the settlement were confidential, but added: "It's been a long drawn-out process for me and my family. But we are pleased to advise that we are completely satisfied with the outcome."[26]

Ahmed court case

Hadley was sued by Kim Anne Ahmed. Hadley attacked Mrs Ahmed on air because she continued to support her husband, who had been charged with aggravated indecent assault of a 17 year old employee, and because she took out an AVO against the young victim's father. In an interview with the victim's father in May 2008, Hadley described the fish and chip shop owner's supporters as "vile". Later in the broadcast, Hadley said that if either Mr Ahmed or his "grub of a wife" still owned their shop, "they should completely and utterly be sent out of business". [27] In December 2013, the judge ordered a $280,000 award to Mrs Ahmed, describing the broadcast as "an unbridled tirade" that came "from the gutter" [28]

Personal life

Hadley has two children with his former wife, Anne Marie. Hadley married Suzanne in 1994. They separated in late 2010 but reconciled a few months later.[29] However they separated again in 2014, and Suzanne began dating Matt Parish, the Canberra Raiders assistant coach and assistant coach of the New South Wales 2014 State of Origin team.

In May 2014 it was revealed that Hadley had unsuccessfully attempted to have Parish fired from his post with the NRL after Suzanne and Parish began their relationship.[30]

On August 3 2018, Hadley's son Daniel, a police officer, was arrested in possession of 0.79 of a gram of cocaine, worth around $200[31].

References

  1. ↑ "Ray Hadley". Fairfax Syndication. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Elliott, Tim (25 September 2010). "Brawler of the airwaves". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. 1 2 "Ray Hadley & Amanda Keller inducted into Radio Hall of Fame". Commercial Radio Australia. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "About Ray". Ray Hadley. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  5. ↑ Marcus Casey (11 May 2011). "Hard working Hadley cracks 20pc barrier". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "It's my show and I'll rant if I want to". Media Watch. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Ray Hadley". It's an Honour - Australian Honours. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ray Hadley to present Sky News talk show". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  9. ↑ "NRL Footy Show". Jump In. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Hadley accepts ACMA ruling but takes aim at complainant Wayne Swan". Mumbrella. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  11. ↑ Clennell, Andrew (13 July 2013). "Ray Hadley won't apologise for calling Swan a liar and a boofhead". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  12. ↑ Burrowes, Tim (30 October 2012). "2GB's Ray Hadley breached privacy rules by broadcasting man's address, rules ACMA". Mumbrella. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  13. ↑ Sharp, Annette (16 February 2013). "Tearful Ray Hadley eats humble pie over outburst to junior 2GB staff". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  14. ↑ Swan, Jonathan (23 February 2013). "The dark side of Sydney radio's raging success". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  15. ↑ Walker, Ian (10 July 2013). "2GB star Ray Hadley stays silent on-air over being sued by station employee over an altercation". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  16. ↑ Swan, Jonathan (15 February 2013). "Hadley back on air as Singleton lifts suspension". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  17. ↑ Hardie, Giles (5 March 2013). "2DayFM survives scandal, Hadley hurt by his". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "Radio Host Ray Hadley Is Being Personally Sued By The Man He Apologised For Shouting At". Business Insider. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  19. ↑ Swan, Jonathan (31 January 2014). "Ray Hadley settles with man he allegedly bullied". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  20. ↑ The Ray Hadley Morning Show: Highlights by Macquarie Media Limited on iTunes
  21. 1 2 Byrnes, Holly (8 August 2011). "Ray Hadley slams Andrew Voss as a 'moron, 'grub' for Ray Warren statue comments". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  22. ↑ Phelps, James (9 August 2011). "Origin of Ray Hadley, Andrew Voss feud revealed". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  23. ↑ Rothfield, Phil (9 September 2012). "Hadley sued over Rabbits statue". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  24. ↑ Hall, Louise (27 September 2012). "Smith takes Hadley to court for defamation". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  25. ↑ "Hadley to be sued for defamation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  26. ↑ Hornery, Andrew (12 September 2014). "PS: Ray Hadley's spray at MP costs 2GB big money". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  27. ↑ "Sex offender's wife sues Ray Hadley". Ninemsn. 5 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  28. ↑ Paul, Bibby (19 December 2013). "Ray Hadley to pay $280,000 for defaming woman on show". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  29. ↑ "The Hadleys rekindle their love". The Daily Telegraph. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  30. ↑ Hornery, Andrew (16 May 2014). "Ray Hadley creates minefield over wife's affair with coach Matt Parish". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Police officer son of broadcaster Ray Hadley charged for buying cocaine". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
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