Australian leader bashes ‘Brother’

Australian Prime Minister John Howard called Monday for the reality television program “Big Brother” to be taken off the air there after an incident between contestants prompted an investigation into sexual assault.

Two housemates were kicked off the program on Saturday and police were called in after an early-morning incident was broadcast live on the Internet by the Ten Network.

Police said they would not press charges over the incident, in which a male contestant held down a female housemate while another male contestant rubbed his genitals in her face.

“I think it is just a question of good taste,” Howard told Australian radio Monday. “Here is a great opportunity for Channel Ten to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid program off the air.”

The network said it would continue to broadcast the series, which, like its U.S. counterpart, revolves around a group of strangers locked in a house together.