Leigh Sales slams critics of all-staff email about Uluru Statement from the Heart

Leigh Sales has come out firing at critics who attacked her email about how to respond to questions on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

ABC journalist Leigh Sales has ripped into critics of her all-staff email at the national broadcaster torpedoing claims of a “secret” 26-page version of the Uluru Statement of the Heart.

But it prompted a fiery response from Sky News host Peta Credlin who has accused the ABC of “stifling debate” on the issue.

Sales told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday that it was “part of her job” to ensure that the ABC was getting “factually correct” information out to the public, comparing the Uluru claim to Labor’s “Mediscare” campaign during the 2019 election.

Leigh Sales sent an email about the Uluru Statement of the Heart to ABC staff. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“There was no such thing,’ she said. “It’s similar to this. There’s not a secret agenda out there to pay reparations or anything of that ilk.

“The Uluru Statement is a one-page document, and it’s incumbent on the ABC to be factually accurate.”

In the email sent to ABC staff last week, Sales provided employees with scripts on how to respond to debate on the Uluru Statement and whether it was a 26-page document.

“Ms X, respectfully, I’ll correct your claim that the Uluru statement is a 26-page document,” the guide states.

“It is a one-page document, the other 25 pages were minutes collected during a consultation phase that do not form part of the final document.”

Sales then suggests the journalist should then “move on … to your next question”.

Speaking on 2GB radio, host Fordham then asked Sales, “But why are you sending emails to all staff at the ABC about the Voice?”

“Because one of our jobs at the ABC is to ensure that we get the factually correct information out to the Australian public,’’ Sales replied.

“I don’t think there’s anything inappropriate with telling ABC staff, ‘stick to the facts’ on both sides, the yes and no side.”

Fordham argued that the longer document - which contained calls for reparations, ‘rent’ to be paid and reconsideration of land rights - was still newsworthy.

“Of course, but what you can’t do is come on and present it as what you’ve been told isn’t the full Uluru Statement. We are presented with the full Uluru Statement,’’ Sales said.

“The other material, which is of interest to people who want to understand the full context, is a separate thing.”

“(But) it’s not some secret document that the government is going from that’s actually being hidden from the Australian public.

“It’s been there all along if you want to have a look at it.”

The Uluru Statement from the Heart. Picture: Supplied.

But Sky News host and columnist Peta Credlin slammed Sales for telling other staff how to conduct interviews.

“What right does ABC head office have to decide what Australians can and can’t know about a critical change to the nation’s Constitution given their taxes pay for the ABC?” Credlin said.

“The only explanation I can see is that the ABC is scared that the more people know and understand, the more questions and concerns they might have about the voice referendum.”

Credlin has also taken aim at fellow Sky host Chris Kenny over his stance on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, labelling her colleague “anything but a conservative”.

“You know a Labor PM’s in trouble when he quotes anyone on the right to defend himself under fire in the chamber,” Credlin said on Monday.

“But if he thinks quoting Chris Kenny is a winner for conservatives, well he’s kidding himself. On this issue Chris is anything but a conservative and viewers know it.”

“(Kenny’s) commentary over the weekend in The Australian was that it was somehow wrong or disingenuous for the Opposition to use Question Time last week and again today to demand answers about the Voice from a Prime Minister that has been to date unwilling to give any of them,” she said.

“Chris’ position was hard to fathom.”