Mitch Fifield’s accusation based on reporting of Super Saturday date controversy
COMMUNICATIONS Minister Mitch Fifield has taken aim at the ABC’s top political reporters in a new escalation of tensions between the public broadcaster and the Turnbull government.
NSW
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COMMUNICATIONS Minister Mitch Fifield has taken aim at the ABC’s top political reporters in a new escalation of tensions between the public broadcaster and the Turnbull government.
The letter, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, contains a formal complaint about the ABC’s political editor Andrew Probyn and 730’s chief political correspondent Laura Tingle and their coverage of the coming Super Saturday by-election.
Senator Fifield has accused Mr Probyn and Ms Tingle, in the letter dated May 31, of repeating a “Labor lie” — that the selection of the July 28 date for the by-elections was “a political decision of the government — as fact.
The letter gives two examples, one on the ABC’s Friday 7pm news and the other on Sunday’s Insider program, to back these claims which Senator Fifield writes “were presented as fact by the program and were left unchallenged”.
It comes after two other complaints by senior Turnbull government ministers including from the Prime Minister’s Office over reports by the ABC’s chief economics correspondent Emma Alberici.
A number of those complaints were upheld by the ABC, and changes made to reports and analysis about business tax avoidance and the government’s innovation policies.
The ABC has been contacted for comment.
“At no stage has the ABC reported any evidence that contradicts the statement to the House of Representatives given by the Speaker and the testimony of the independent AEC Commissioner at Senate Estimates,” Senator Fifield’s letter reads.
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“I also ask that when the ABC acknowledges it has made an error in a news broadcast, that is broadcast an acknowledgment and correction of that error in the same program.”
Labor had alleged the date for five by-elections, four of which are in seats held by the party, was unfairly chosen because it coincided with its national conference.
That conference has now been delayed.
Speaker Tony Smith said the date had been recommended by the Australian Electoral Commission to avoid school holidays to let new rules to stop dual citizens from being elected be rolled out in time.
An ABC spokeswoman confirmed it was investigating the complaint.
Senator Fifield confirmed that he had written to the ABC “asking that factual errors in their reporting”.
“The ABC’s legislation requires its news to be accurate and impartial,” he said.
“As the responsible Minister it is my duty to hold the ABC accountable in meeting the high standards taxpayers expect.”
