Morrison government demands ABC justify Four Corners report on Liberal pollies’ private lives

The ABC has been accused of showing a ‘clear bias’ against the Liberal Party in report exposing private lives of Alan Tudge and Christian Porter.

The ABC has been accused of showing a “clear bias” against the Liberal Party in its special report exposing the personal lives of cabinet ministers Alan Tudge and Christian Porter.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has written to ABC board chair Ita Buttrose demanding the public broadcaster answer a series of questions to justify the Four Corners exposé, including why the program “failed” to investigate or report on conduct by Labor, Greens or independent politicians.

The program, broadcast last month, exposed an affair between Mr Tudge and his former media adviser, Rachelle Miller, and aired allegations Mr Porter had kissed a woman in a Canberra bar.

Minister Alan Tudge arrives at the Midwinter Ball in the company of Liberal staffer Rachelle Miller who he was having an affair with. Picture: ABC

Mr Porter, who is currently the Attorney-General, has denied the allegations in the program, which included the suggestion he was sexist based on his previous behaviour as a university student.

In the letter, Mr Fletcher asked why the ABC Board considered it “appropriate” that the privacy of Mr Porter and Mr Tudge be “compromised” by the way the program deals “extensively with aspects of their private lives”.

He questioned how the story was consistent with the ABC Code of Practice, which outlines a requirement to respect privacy.

The first page of the letter sent by Communications Minister Paul Fletcher to the ABC Board. Picture: Twitter

Mr Fletcher has also accused the ABC of failing to follow its Code of Practice by failing to be impartial, including by interviewing people who were “politically hostile toward the Liberal Party or personally hostile towards or motivated by animus against the Ministers”.

Mr Fletcher demanded a response from Ms Buttrose on why the ABC felt it had been fair to accuse Mr Porter of sexism based on writing and accounts from his time at university and school.

“How is it consistent with the Code of Practice’s reference to fair treatment and impartiality for the ABC to include in the Program extensive materials regarding conduct over a quarter of a century ago by someone who was then a university student and even a school student?” he asked.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has denied the allegations aired by ABC. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The letter also claimed the unnamed woman allegedly seen by Ms Miller kissing Mr Porter in Canberra’s Public Bar had denied the incident took place directly to the Four Corners program.

“Does the board consider it is consistent with the duty of accuracy and impartiality and the principle of fair and honest dealing that the program failed to report that the woman the subject of the alleged incident in the Public Bar, and the subject of the alleged relationship with the Attorney-General denied both these allegations to those preparing the program,” Mr Fletcher said.

“In light of these denials by the woman, does the Board believe it was appropriate for the Program to present statements by Senator (Sarah) Hanson-Young as purportedly corroborating Ms Miller’s allegations.”