Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is at the centre of another media controversy. In a radio interview on Thursday a host posed some unexpected questions about her partner Tim Mathieson.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD SAYING IN RESPONSE TO COMMENT BY FAIRFAX RADIO HOST HOWARD SATTLER:

FAIRFAX RADIO HOST HOWARD SATTLER SAYING: "TIM'S GAY?

GILLARD SAYING IN RESPONSE: "Well."

FAIRFAX RADIO HOST HOWARD SATTLER SAYING: "IT'S NOT ME SAYING IT, IT'S A MYTH?"

GILLARD SAYING IN RESPONSE: "That's absurd."

FAIRFAX RADIO HOST HOWARD SATTLER SAYING: "YOU HEAR IT, HE MUST BE GAY, HE'S A HAIRDRESSER. YOU HEARD IT. IT'S NOT ME SAYING IT."

GILLARD SAYING IN RESPONSE: "Well, I mean, Howard, I don't know whether every silly thing that gets said is going to be repeated to me now. But you know, to all the hairdressers out there, including the men who are listening, I don't think in life one can actually look at a whole profession