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where main character Mike Moore interviewed a gunman and his hostage daughter. In the final scene of this episode, Mike interviews, live on air, another gunman in another siege who, much to Mike's horror, subsequently shoots each of his hostages, the sounds of which are played live across
Australia.
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and the
Coalition would remain out of government for three more years, Many political analysts believed that the interview cost Hewson's chance of winning what his supporters dubbed the 'unloseable election'. However, others counter that opinion polls held up until election day still predicted a
412:
would cost more or less under his government as a result of the GST. Willesee's unrelenting questioning along with Hewson's indecisive answers and his frequent stuttering made it appear that Hewson had little understanding of one of his own major policies. Hewson would go on to lose the election
310:
in 1971, and he invited Hogan to make regular 5-minute appearances on the show. Hogan would perform skits and make humorous comments on some issue of the day. During this period, Hogan befriended
421:
In 1993, Willesee received public outrage for his controversial action of interviewing, via phone, two young children, a brother 11 and his sister 9 who were being held hostage, during the
388:
as well as producing specials for the network, winning a Logie for Most
Popular Documentary in 1986. One of the most significant interviews conducted by Willesee was the famous
210:, who is also a journalist and another daughter Kate Willesee who is a chiropractor. His son Michael Jr is married to television host and reporter
482:. The rationale for Willesee receiving the award was that the show was "seeking to capitalise on the irrational millennial fears of many people".
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425:. Many held the opinion that his actions were reckless and endangered the children's lives. This event was subsequently parodied by
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255:. This decision was rumoured to have been the result of the government's anger over critical coverage of its policies on the ABC.
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on 2 April further angered Holt, who questioned the ABC's impartiality and implied that
Willesee (whose father Don Willesee was a
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after years away from the Church. On 1 March 2019, Willesee died of throat cancer in Sydney, Australia at the age of 76.
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Senator) was politically biased. Holt's remarks backfired, as they provoked strong protests from both
Willesee and the
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Shore, Lys Ann (1987). "Controversies in
Science and Fringe Science: From Animals and SETI to Quackery and SHC".
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447:, he fronted the show while appearing to be under the influence of alcohol. He claimed he was on medication,
470:. This documentary was watched by an audience of 28 million in the United States. In 1999, Willesee won the
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faith of his upbringing. He has reported on religious topics, and in 1998, he made a report entitled
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Willesee figured prominently in the controversy that erupted over the decision in early 1967 by the
240:), where his aggressive style quickly earned him a reputation as a fearless political interviewer.
59:
179:(29 June 1942 – 1 March 2019) was an Australian television journalist, interviewer and presenter.
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Mike first came to prominence in 1967 as a reporter for then-new nightly current affairs program
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to take place in only ten days, Willesee asked Hewson numerous questions about the proposed
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In 2017, Michael
Willesee spoke about his battle with throat cancer on the TV program
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before it ended in 1982 but
Willesee began to produce documentaries for the network.
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690:"Mike Willesee, giant of current affairs, lays bare his life or death cancer battle"
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and spoke about his dedication to discovering what science can ascertain about the
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705:"'His death has robbed us all': Veteran TV journalist Mike Willesee dies aged 76"
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wished to introduce. Hewson struggled to answer the simple question of whether a
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Joan
Stanbury (divorced), Carol Willesee (divorced), Gordana Willesee (divorced)
325:(now known as Network 10), where he also presented a weekly interview program.
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Willesee is remembered by many
Australians for the night when, filling in for
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He returned to Nine in 1984 to revisit the nightly current affairs genre with
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Willesee later left Nine for a role as news and current affairs director at
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to do high-profile interviews. His first encounter was with Prime Minister
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He was known for a long-running friendship with a disabled boy named
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in the same timeslot and led to that program being axed in 1978.
650:"Enough Rope with Andrew Denton – episode 117: Michael Willesee"
571:"Mr Michael Robert WILLESEE: Officer of the Order of Australia"
528:
300:, Willesee noticed the talent of a young Australian comedian,
206:, a TV presenter and journalist. He was the father of Amy and
338:. He also presented a nightly current affairs program called
622:"Enough Rope with Andrew Denton – episode 115: John Hewson"
373:, who recruited in Australia during the 1980s. In 1987 the
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and he was also the father-in-law of journalist and writer
258:
Willesee's own critical comments about the decision on
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Willesee was the son of politician, Western Australian
652:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 August 2006.
624:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 August 2006.
638:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 March 2003.
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In 2002, Willesee became the 19th inductee into the
332:in 1975 and hosted the first Australian version of
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506:; specifically, whether it contains the blood of
304:, who had appeared on the amateur talent program
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392:in 1993, with then leader of the Liberal Party,
202:Willesee's brothers are Don Willesee Jnr., and
549:. He also revealed how he had returned to his
277:, Willesee hosted the current affairs program
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527:. In early 2013 he interviewed billionaire
16:Australian television presenter (1942–2019)
636:"Compass: The Conversion of Mike Willesee"
608:"Willesee at Seven… again – Television.AU"
454:In his fifties, Willesee rediscovered the
369:. He was also known for sparring with the
199:, and his wife Gwendoline Clark Willesee.
656:
492:On 21 August 2006, Willesee appeared on
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792:Deaths from throat cancer in Australia
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692:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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628:
614:
466:displayed by a woman, Katya Revas, in
797:Deaths from cancer in New South Wales
688:Quentin McDermott (4 November 2017).
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377:(CSICOP) presented Willesee with the
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251:, not to reappoint the ABC chair Dr
268:Australian Journalists' Association
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777:Officers of the Order of Australia
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296:when it debuted in 1971. While at
247:government, led by Prime Minister
218:. His niece is cyclist and author
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762:Australian television journalists
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563:
767:Australian television presenters
703:Rota, Genevieve (1 March 2019).
538:
222:, Terry's biological daughter.
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375:Committee of Skeptical Inquiry
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513:In 2012, Willesee joined the
342:which claimed a victory over
191:senator and foreign minister
379:Responsibility in Journalism
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787:Australian Roman Catholics
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709:The Sydney Morning Herald
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19:Not to be confused with
390:Birthday Cake Interview
367:osteogenesis imperfecta
171:Michael Robert Willesee
46:Michael Robert Willesee
782:Australian republicans
590:The Skeptical Inquirer
402:Goods and Services Tax
575:Australian Government
462:on the appearance of
398:1993 Federal Election
286:He then moved to the
183:Early life and family
283:from 1969 to 1971.
208:Michael Willesee Jr.
195:, who served in the
148:Michael Willesee Jr.
90:Television presenter
21:Michael Willesee Jr.
772:Logie Award winners
476:Australian Skeptics
449:tired and emotional
418:Coalition victory.
610:. 29 January 2012.
290:, where he hosted
197:Whitlam government
423:1993 Cangai siege
348:Willesee at Seven
340:Willesee at Seven
335:This Is Your Life
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164:(daughter-in-law)
104:Years active
78:Sydney, Australia
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460:Signs From God
456:Roman Catholic
328:He joined the
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216:Mark Whittaker
204:Terry Willesee
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712:. Retrieved
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671:. Retrieved
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132:Don Willesee
73:(2019-03-01)
71:1 March 2019
56:29 June 1942
29:
25:Mark Willacy
757:2019 deaths
752:1942 births
673:27 November
596:(1): 12–13.
499:Enough Rope
496:'s TV show
396:. With the
394:John Hewson
249:Harold Holt
93:interviewer
84:Occupations
746:Categories
557:References
441:Jana Wendt
365:, who had
302:Paul Hogan
220:Janet Shaw
152:Janet Shaw
145:(brother)
52:1942-06-29
474:from the
432:Frontline
406:Coalition
314:producer
307:New Faces
139:Relatives
128:Parent(s)
112:Spouse(s)
107:1967–2018
96:presenter
464:stigmata
413:against
386:Willesee
120:Children
668:Yahoo!7
468:Bolivia
381:award.
245:Liberal
154:(niece)
714:7 June
531:owner
529:casino
427:ABC TV
273:After
226:Career
264:Labor
60:Perth
737:IMDb
716:2024
675:2013
478:for
354:and
68:Died
42:Born
735:at
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275:TDT
260:TDT
238:TDT
189:ALP
23:or
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