A weekend television presenter has ignited a fiery debate after proposing an extreme and unorthodox punishment for thieves accused of severing a vital telecommunications cable just hours before a cyclone was due to strike.
A "Lowest Act" During a Disaster
The controversy unfolded on Sunday's edition of Weekend Today, where host Michael Atkinson was in conversation with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli. They were discussing an incident in the state's far north, where an individual was accused of cutting a cable to steal copper, knocking out phone and internet services for thousands.
Premier Crisafulli did not mince words, branding the act as "the lowest act any human could possibly do." He emphasised that during a disaster event, communications are everything, and the alleged theft had put at risk the lives of many thousands of people in Townsville's northern suburbs.
"Zip Tie Them to a Palm Tree"
Agreeing wholeheartedly with the Premier's assessment, co-host Michael Atkinson offered his own stark vision of justice. "I reckon you'd be within your rights to zip tie them to a palm tree on the coast as the cyclone crosses the coastline, Premier," Atkinson stated.
The remark was caught on camera by a viewer and swiftly uploaded to TikTok, where it quickly garnered attention. The clip was captioned, "This news presenter is wild for saying this," and also highlighted the visibly stunned reaction of Atkinson's co-host, Lara Vella.
Public Reaction: From Praise to Condemnation
The public response to Atkinson's comments was sharply divided. Many viewers applauded the presenter's blunt approach, with one commenting, "This presenter is the bomb, he needs his own time slot." Another called it "the most Australian thing I have heard this year," while a third simply agreed with the suggested punishment.
However, not all feedback was positive. Some critics accused the broadcaster of irresponsibility, with one person stating, "Mainstream media trying to incite violence + vigilantes." Another suggested the host was "playing out some kind of personal fantasy live on air."
The Alleged Crime and Its Consequences
The discussion was prompted by a real police investigation. Two men, Trent John Bush and Bradley David Edwards, were arrested and charged after allegedly being spotted lifting pit lids and cutting what appeared to be copper wire in the Townsville suburb of Deeragun on Sunday night.
They face seven counts of severing with intent to steal and one count of possessing house-breaking instruments. Premier Crisafulli confirmed the culprits' actions had caused significant disruption, leaving Telstra, Optus and NBN customers across Townsville without services ahead of the severe weather.
The incident highlights the critical importance of infrastructure security during natural disasters and the severe public backlash that can follow acts perceived as endangering community safety.
