11 Apr 2012

Thompson complaint rejected by BSA

2:56 pm on 11 April 2012

The Broadcasting Standards Authority has rejected a complaint by the former head of the Employers and Manufacturers Association about his treatment in a television interview, saying someone in his position should have known better.

Alasdair Thompson made controversial comments on the Campbell Live programme on TV3 last year, about women earning less than men because they take sick leave when they have their periods.

Mr Thompson complained to the BSA after the programme ran part of the interview he thought was off the record.

But the BSA found any harm to Mr Thompson's dignity and reputation was largely self-imposed.

Media commentator and lecturer Jim Tucker says Mr Thompson should have known how the media operate.

But another media commentator, Brian Edwards, says the BSA is naive to think people in positions of power know how to handle TV interviews.