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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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221:, 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
493:. 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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436:. 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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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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458:, he fronted the show while appearing to be under the influence of alcohol. He claimed he was on medication,
481:. 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
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251:), where his aggressive style quickly earned him a reputation as a fearless political interviewer.
190:(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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701:"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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716:"'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)
336:(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.
661:"Enough Rope with Andrew Denton – episode 117: Michael Willesee"
582:"Mr Michael Robert WILLESEE: Officer of the Order of Australia"
311:, Willesee noticed the talent of a young Australian comedian,
217:, a TV presenter and journalist. He was the father of Amy and
349:. He also presented a nightly current affairs program called
633:"Enough Rope with Andrew Denton – episode 115: John Hewson"
384:, 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
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Willesee's own critical comments about the decision on
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Willesee was the son of politician, Western Australian
663:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 August 2006.
635:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 August 2006.
649:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 March 2003.
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In 2002, Willesee became the 19th inductee into the
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213:Willesee's brothers are Don Willesee Jnr., and
560:. He also revealed how he had returned to his
288:, Willesee hosted the current affairs program
8:
538:. In early 2013 he interviewed billionaire
27:Australian television presenter (1942–2019)
647:"Compass: The Conversion of Mike Willesee"
619:"Willesee at Seven… again – Television.AU"
465:In his fifties, Willesee rediscovered the
380:. He was also known for sparring with the
210:, and his wife Gwendoline Clark Willesee.
42:
503:On 21 August 2006, Willesee appeared on
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803:Deaths from throat cancer in Australia
703:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
477:displayed by a woman, Katya Revas, in
808:Deaths from cancer in New South Wales
699:Quentin McDermott (4 November 2017).
388:(CSICOP) presented Willesee with the
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262:, not to reappoint the ABC chair Dr
279:Australian Journalists' Association
788:Officers of the Order of Australia
307:when it debuted in 1971. While at
258:government, led by Prime Minister
229:. His niece is cyclist and author
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773:Australian television journalists
778:Australian television presenters
714:Rota, Genevieve (1 March 2019).
233:, Terry's biological daughter.
386:Committee of Skeptical Inquiry
73:, Western Australia, Australia
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524:In 2012, Willesee joined the
353:which claimed a victory over
202:senator and foreign minister
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798:Australian Roman Catholics
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720:The Sydney Morning Herald
30:Not to be confused with
401:Birthday Cake Interview
378:osteogenesis imperfecta
182:Michael Robert Willesee
57:Michael Robert Willesee
793:Australian republicans
601:The Skeptical Inquirer
413:Goods and Services Tax
586:Australian Government
473:on the appearance of
409:1993 Federal Election
297:He then moved to the
194:Early life and family
294:from 1969 to 1971.
219:Michael Willesee Jr.
206:, who served in the
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101:Television presenter
32:Michael Willesee Jr.
783:Logie Award winners
487:Australian Skeptics
460:tired and emotional
429:Coalition victory.
621:. 29 January 2012.
301:, where he hosted
208:Whitlam government
434:1993 Cangai siege
359:Willesee at Seven
351:Willesee at Seven
346:This Is Your Life
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175:(daughter-in-law)
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89:Sydney, Australia
16:(Redirected from
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84:(2019-03-01)
82:1 March 2019
67:29 June 1942
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36:Mark Willacy
768:2019 deaths
763:1942 births
684:27 November
607:(1): 12–13.
510:Enough Rope
507:'s TV show
407:. With the
405:John Hewson
260:Harold Holt
104:interviewer
95:Occupations
757:Categories
568:References
452:Jana Wendt
376:, who had
313:Paul Hogan
231:Janet Shaw
163:Janet Shaw
156:(brother)
63:1942-06-29
485:from the
443:Frontline
417:Coalition
325:producer
318:New Faces
150:Relatives
139:Parent(s)
123:Spouse(s)
118:1967–2018
107:presenter
475:stigmata
424:against
397:Willesee
131:Children
679:Yahoo!7
479:Bolivia
392:award.
256:Liberal
165:(niece)
725:7 June
542:owner
540:casino
438:ABC TV
284:After
237:Career
275:Labor
71:Perth
748:IMDb
727:2024
686:2013
489:for
365:and
79:Died
53:Born
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200:ALP
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