Elite private school to monitor Stefanovic keynote
The future of a Karl Stefanovic guest appearance at an elite Adelaide private school old scholar event remains up in the air following the fallout from a controversial podcast episode.
Prince Alfred Old Collegians Association (PAOCA) will be monitoring a scheduled Karl Stefanovic guest speaking appearance at an annual old scholars event, InDaily understands, after Stefanovic featured a controversial far-right figure on his podcast this week.
Earlier this month, Stefanovic was announced as the keynote speaker at PAOCA’s Annual Dinner event at the Adelaide Convention Centre, expected to host hundreds of Prince Alfred College old scholars on July 31.
“This year, we are delighted to welcome acclaimed television presenter and journalist Karl Stefanovic as our guest speaker,” the PAOCA Facebook post said.
“Now, with The Karl Stefanovic Show podcast, he’s stepping into conversation too bold, too honest and too unfiltered for traditional TV. Nothing’s off limits!”
When announced, one commenter on social media said, “What a disgraceful choice for speaker”, with another agreeing, saying, “Gentlemen, you are better than this”.
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Each year, the event features a notable guest speaker, with the 2025 event featuring former Australian Football League CEO and current CEO of wagering company Tabcorp Gillon McLachlan.
InDaily understands the PAOCA would be monitoring the situation, but had yet to decide on removing Stefanovic as the guest speaker.
It follows the fallout from Stefanovic’s recent interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson on an almost one-hour episode of The Karl Stefanovic Show, which he launched in January. The interview was removed from social media sites on Wednesday morning, but was republished by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson on YouTube.
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Robinson is the co-founder of the far-right English Defence League movement and has served five prison terms since 2005 for crimes including assault, fraud and contempt of court.
Channel Nine, Stefanovic’s employer, is reportedly negotiating his exit from the network after more than 20 years at the helm of its flagship television breakfast program, The Today Show.
“The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production,” a Nine spokesperson said.
“Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes. However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas, who featured on an episode of the podcast earlier this year, said on ABC Radio this morning that he would not feature on Stefanovic’s podcast again.
“The Tommy Robinson thing, I think, crosses the line. When I saw the reports during the week that he was interviewing Tommy Robinson, that made me cringe,” Malinauskas said.
The Premier said it would not deter him from doing interviews with people he disagrees with.
“If I only said yes to interviews from people who I thought agreed with me, I’m then contributing to the problem of polarisation rather than confronting it,” he said.
“I just don’t see a world where the only people who agree with each other does any good.”
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