Morrison government writes to ABC chair Ita Buttrose over Four Corners program

The Morrison government has questioned whether the ABC upheld its statutory obligations with the program.

The Morrison government has reignited its feud with the public broadcaster over its sex scandal expose, sending a stern “please explain” to ABC chair Ita Buttrose.

The Four Corners report, which aired earlier this month, revealed that Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge had an affair with his adviser. It also claimed Attorney-General Christian Porter was seen kissing a staffer in a Canberra bar, an allegation he has vehemently denied.

ABC bosses were pressured by the government ahead of the program, with Coalition figures frustrated it did not delve into issues involving Labor MPs.

Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge. Picture: Getty

Attorney-General Christian Porter. Picture: Getty

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has now written to Ms Buttrose with a series of questions about whether the ABC upheld its statutory obligations with the Four Corners program.

Mr Fletcher asked: “Why does the board consider it is appropriate that the privacy of the Attorney-General and Minister Tudge should be compromised by the way in which the program deals extensively with aspects of their personal lives? How is this consistent with the stated importance of respect for privacy in the code of practice, including whether intrusion into private lives was proportionate in the circumstances?”

Ministers are banned from having sexual relationships with their staffers, although the allegations against Mr Tudge and Mr Porter related to events which occured before Malcolm Turnbull put that rule in place.

Mr Fletcher also called out the ABC’s focus on Mr Porter’s behaviour as a university student, as well as the program not reporting the response of the woman allegedly involved with Mr Porter.