Andrew Bolt

Andrew Bolt
Born	(1959-09-26) September 26, 1959 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Occupation(s)	Commentator, journalist, television presenter
Years active	1980s–present
Known for	Conservative commentary on social and political matters; columnist for Herald Sun; host of The Bolt Report

Andrew Bolt (born 26 September 1959) is an Australian commentator known for his conservative viewpoints on social and political matters. He has been extensively involved with News Corp Australia's newspaper division, The Herald and Weekly Times (HWT), contributing to both The Herald and its successor, the Herald Sun. Presently, Bolt writes columns and blogs for the Herald Sun and hosts the weeknight television program The Bolt Report. Recognized for his forthright approach, he remains a polarizing personality in Australian media, frequently facing criticism due to his opinions on various political and societal topics.

Background

Born in Adelaide to Dutch immigrants who had recently settled in Australia, Bolt spent his childhood in isolated rural locations such as Tarcoola, South Australia, where his father served as a school teacher and principal. After completing his secondary education at Murray Bridge High School, Bolt travelled internationally and worked abroad before enrolling in an arts program at the University of Adelaide. He eventually left university to accept a cadetship at The Age, a Melbourne-based broadsheet newspaper, initially working as a sports journalist prior to joining The Herald. His career included assignments as an Asia correspondent stationed in Hong Kong and later in Bangkok. Additionally, he participated in two election campaigns for the Hawke government.

Media career

Bolt’s professional experience spans television, radio, and print journalism.

In 2005, he released a collection of his newspaper columns titled Still Not Sorry: The Best of Andrew Bolt.

Print

Bolt’s columns appear under News Corp Australia’s banner in the Herald Sun alongside publications like The Daily Telegraph, The Advertiser, Northern Territory News, and The Courier-Mail.

Internet

In May 2005, Bolt introduced an online platform designed for reader engagement with his columns, which transitioned into a traditional blog format by July 2006.

Radio

He co-hosted the daily broadcast Breakfast with Steve Price and Andrew Bolt on MTR 1377. Additionally, he featured weekly on Sydney’s 2GB program The Clash alongside union leader Paul Howes. From 2016 onward, he has been a frequent guest four nights per week on Nights with Steve Price, airing on 2GB in Sydney, Melbourne’s 3AW, Brisbane’s 4BC, and other stations within the network across Australia.

Television

Between 2001 and 2011, Bolt regularly appeared on Insiders. He departed the show in May 2011 to lead his own weekly series, The Bolt Report, on Network Ten. After the program concluded on Ten in 2015, Bolt joined Sky News Live as a contributor. In May 2016, The Bolt Report was relaunched as a nightly show on Sky News Live.

His television appearances also include ABC's Q&A and ABC Radio National's Late Night Live with Phillip Adams.

Disclosure of classified intelligence

In June 2003, Bolt authored an article critical of Andrew Wilkie, incorporating excerpts from a confidential intelligence report Wilkie had prepared for the Office of National Assessments. Allegations surfaced that the document had been leaked by someone within Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's office, though these claims were never substantiated. The Australian Federal Police reported they found no proof identifying the source of the leak.

The Stolen Generations debate

Bolt has expressed skepticism about the existence of the Stolen Generation, describing it as an "absurd and offensive" myth and denying any official policy aimed at systematically removing "half-caste" Aboriginal children. In response, Robert Manne argued that Bolt disregarded substantial documentary proof affirming the reality of the Stolen Generations, accusing him of engaging in historical denialism. Bolt challenged Manne to present ten specific instances supporting allegations that children were "stolen" rather than taken due to neglect or abuse. Manne replied with a documented list comprising 250 names. Bolt asserted that prior to their debate, Manne provided only twelve names, which Bolt contended involved children who were abandoned, mistreated, or willingly surrendered; during the debate itself, Manne introduced 250 names without detailed explanations. Bolt maintained he found no justification for applying the term "stolen" to these cases, highlighting one example involving a 13-year-old pregnant girl placed into state custody.

This exchange between Bolt and Manne illustrates adversarial arguments centered on individual case studies rather than comprehensive documentary evidence such as legislative frameworks establishing legal grounds for removals across different regions or firsthand accounts from those enforcing policies, as detailed in the Bringing Them Home report. A 2008 legal review noted challenges faced by Stolen Generation claimants in disputing contemporaneous records documenting their removal.

Defamation lawsuit

In 2002, magistrate Jelena Popovic was awarded $246,000 in damages following a defamation suit against Bolt and the Herald Sun related to a 2000 column alleging she had "embraced two drug traffickers she allowed to go free." Popovic clarified that she had merely shaken hands with them to acknowledge their completion of rehabilitation. The jury determined Bolt's assertions were false but did not find evidence of malice.

Bolt described the mixed verdict as a victory for free expression; however, Supreme Court Justice Bernard Bongiorno later overturned the jury's decision, concluding that Bolt acted unreasonably by failing to seek Popovic's response and showed disregard for defamation issues. Popovic received $210,000 in aggravated damages, $25,000 in punitive damages, and $11,500 in interest. The Court of Appeal upheld the defamation ruling but removed punitive damages, characterizing Bolt's conduct as either "dishonest and misleading" or "grossly negligent."

Case on racial discrimination

In 2010, nine plaintiffs initiated legal action against Bolt and the Herald Sun over blog posts implying that individuals with fair skin claimed Aboriginal identity for political or professional gain, alleging violations of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. They sought apologies and restrictions on publication but did not pursue monetary compensation.

The following year, Justice Mordecai Bromberg ruled that Bolt had breached section 18C of the Act. Bolt condemned the judgment as a "disastrous day for free speech," asserting it curtailed open discussion on multiculturalism and identity issues. This case ignited widespread debate regarding the boundaries of free expression and judicial oversight of public discourse. Subsequently, Bolt suggested that political bias may have influenced the outcome.

Assault

On 6 June 2017, Bolt was attacked outside a restaurant in Melbourne by individuals wearing masks, while a third person recorded the incident. The activist collective Melbourne Antifa appeared to assert responsibility. The footage revealed considerable violence; Bolt condemned the assault as retaliation for his conservative opinions and pledged to pursue legal action.

Immigration

Bolt has voiced concerns about Australia's demographic shifts, warning in 2018 of a "tidal wave" of immigrants creating segregated communities and transforming cultural norms, characterizing immigration as a form of "colonisation." This viewpoint led to a complaint lodged with the press council. Additionally, he has endorsed Jean Raspail's novel The Camp of the Saints, which portrays immigration as a danger.

Defence of George Pell

In 2019, Bolt came to the defense of Cardinal George Pell amid child sexual abuse convictions that were subsequently overturned by the High Court. He argued that Pell was made a scapegoat and convicted based on bias rather than evidence. Bolt labeled the prosecution as "flimsy" and part of a "sinister" effort targeting Pell. He maintained his support following unsuccessful appeals in Victoria. After Pell’s acquittal by the High Court in April 2020, Bolt interviewed him on Sky News Australia, during which Pell expressed remorse over the Church’s sex abuse scandals but denied any involvement in the alleged offenses.

Comments regarding Greta Thunberg

In July 2019, Bolt questioned the credibility of climate activist Greta Thunberg due to her autism diagnosis, referring to her as "a girl with so many mental disorders" who is treated like an oracle. He also criticized adults for idolizing her and made disparaging remarks about her sister’s mental health. These statements attracted widespread condemnation for their insensitivity. Thunberg responded by highlighting the persistent hate campaigns directed at young climate advocates.

Comments regarding Bruce Pascoe

Bolt disputed author Bruce Pascoe’s claims of Aboriginal heritage following Pascoe’s acclaim for Dark Emu, which reassesses Indigenous history and pre-colonial agricultural practices. Bolt accused Pascoe of idealizing Indigenous identity. Pascoe had previously called for open discussions on identity issues within Australia.

In 2020, Bolt published a letter purportedly from a Yolngu elder denouncing Pascoe; however, the elder denied writing it and portions were found to be plagiarized. This controversy resulted in Josephine Cashman’s removal from an Indigenous advisory panel after she provided the letter to Bolt.

In 2021, Nyunggai Warren Mundine and historian Geoffrey Blainey challenged Pascoe’s Aboriginal ancestry based on genealogical evidence tracing his roots back to England.

Child sexual grooming comments

In February 2020, Bolt faced criticism for downplaying child sexual grooming during a Sky News segment concerning an athletics coach convicted of abusing a schoolboy. He repeatedly used the phrase "hit on" to describe grooming behavior, drawing rebuke from child protection experts who emphasized that adult advances toward children are never consensual. The victim publicly condemned Bolt for minimizing his abuse; both Bolt and co-commentator Gerard Henderson later issued apologies.

Climate change

In 2021, Bolt publicly dismissed News Corp's initiative to raise awareness about climate change, describing it as "nonsense." Kelly O'Shanassy, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation, criticized Bolt's authority on environmental matters, questioning his reliability.

Books by Bolt

• Bolt: Still Not Sorry, Wilkinson Publishing, Melbourne, 2016.
• Bolt: Worth Fighting For: Insights & Reflections, Wilkinson Publishing, Melbourne, 2016.

Personal life

Since 1989, Bolt has been married to Sally Morrell, who is also a columnist for the Herald Sun. The couple has three children. Bolt identifies himself as agnostic.

External links

• Bolt's blog at the Herald Sun