Following menugate.

Howard Sattler (left), a Perth Radio show host, decided to ask Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (right) about rumours concerning her partner Tim Mathieson.

Not one of his better ideas.

Howard Sattler: “Myths, rumours, snide jokes and innuendos, you’ve been the butt of them many times.”

Julia Gillard: “Well I think that’s probably right. We’ve certainly seen that this week.”

Howard Sattler: “Can I test a few out?”

Gillard: “In what way?”

Sattler: “Tim’s gay.”

Gillard: “Well…”

Sattler: “…No, that’s not me saying it. It’s a myth.”

Gillard: “Well that’s absurd.”

Sattler: “But you hear it. He must be gay, he’s a hairdresser.”

Gillard: “Oh, isn’t that…”

Sattler: “But you’ve heard it? It’s not me saying it. It’s what people…”

Gillard: “Well, I mean Howard, I don’t know whether every silly thing that gets said is going to be repeated to me now.”

Sattler: “No, no, no…”

Gillard: “But, you know, to all the hairdressers out there, including the men who are listening, I don’t think in life one can actually look at a whole profession full of different human beings and say ‘Gee we know something about every one of those human beings’, I mean, it’s absurd isn’t it?”

Sattler: “You can confirm that he’s not?”

Gillard: “Howard don’t be ridiculous. Of course not.”

Sattler: “No, but in a heterosexual relationship. That’s all I’m asking.”

Gillard: “Howard, you and I have just talked about that. So now that is bordering…”

Sattler: “No, I wanted to get rid of it.”

Gillard: “Howard, let me just bring you back to Earth.”

Sattler: “I’m not saying it.”

 Gillard: “Right, well, let me just bring you back to Earth. You and I have just talked about me and Tim living at the Lodge. We live there together as a couple. You know that. Yes, on the internet there are lots of what I’ve referred to in the past as nutjobs and I’m happy to use the expression again…”

Sattler: “Good.”

Gillard: “…People who peddle and circulate vile and offensive things.”

Sattler: “Awful things.”

Julia Gillard: “Yeah absolutely.”

Fairfax Radio’s 6PR suspended Howard pending an ‘internal inquiry.

Julia Gillard worried young girls put off politics by her treatment (The Age)

Thanks Mark Geary