Malcolm Turnbull denies influencing SBS sacking of Scott McIntyre over anti-Anzac tweets

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Malcolm Turnbull has denied having any influence over SBS decision to sack sports reporter Scott McIntyre over anti-Anzac tweets.

SBS journalist Scott McIntyre

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Malcolm Turnbull has denied influencing SBS to sack Scott McIntyre for his anti-Anzac tweets, despite publicly admitting he contacted SBS management “as soon as” he was made aware of them.

Responding to Crikey’s questions about the tweets on his blog, Mr Turnbull wrote that: “As soon as I was made aware of the tweets by Mr McIntyre I drew them to the attention of the Managing Director Mr Ebeid who then investigated the matter.

“The management of SBS however, not the Government, is responsible for staffing decisions at SBS.”

In its social media guidelines, SBS explicitly says that “as a public broadcaster, SBS must be, and must be seen to be, independent of political, commercial and other influences”.

Mr Turnbull said that while McIntyre, “as a private citizen”, was entitled to his opinions, the political views expressed in his tweets while a reporter for SBS breached the media company’s guidelines.

“Mr McIntyre, as a private citizen, is entitled to express his political views, but in his capacity as a reporter employed by SBS he has to comply with, and face the consequences of ignoring, the SBS social media protocol, a number of provisions of which were breached by him with his offensive tweets,” the Communications Minister wrote.

“The comments were so offensive that they deserved the widespread condemnation that they received.”

McIntyre caused widespread outrage in Australia when he posted a series of tweets about Anzac Day which referred to soldiers as rapists and thieves, and those who celebrate Anzac Day as “poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers”.

Wonder if the poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers pause today to consider the horror that all mankind suffered.

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

Remembering the summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these ‘brave’ Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan.

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

The cultification of an imperialist invasion of a foreign nation that Australia had no quarrel with is against all ideals of modern society.

— Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) April 25, 2015

Mr Turnbull has been backed by colleagues since, with Social Services Minister Scott Morrion describing McIntyre’s tweets as “obscene” on radio station 2GB.

“It is a free country, you can say what you like but there are consequences for when you say stupid and ugly things,” he said.

The broadcaster’s social media guidelines dictate that “when communicating in either a professional or personal manner, do not act in ways likely to bring yourself or SBS into disrepute”.

The guidelines also touch on the increasingly blended world of private and professional actions on social media, stipulating that “the SBS audience may not be able to distinguish when an employee is acting in an official capacity on behalf of SBS or when social media use is personal”.

SBS journalist Scott McIntyre was fired for posting anti — anzac tweets on Anzac Day. Picture: Supplied

But according to The Guardian, SBS staff have been told that the sports reporter was not sacked because of what he said, but for refusing to take his tweets down.

SBS sport director Ken Shipp reportedly told staff yesterday morning that McIntyre was fired for disobeying an order to delete his posts.

When contacted for comment, Shipp said: “I really can’t comment on an internal meeting, and I don’t really have anything further to add. I am not willing to confirm anything I might have discussed at an internal meeting.”

McIntyre was fired about 12 hours after he posted the tweets, which brought on widespread condemnation from many jorunalsits, politicians and the public.

The Institute of Public Affairs was among those calling for McIntyre’s sacking, saying that such a “poor hiring decision” on behalf of the broadcaster was reason enough for privatisation.

“McIntyre deserved to be fired. Perhaps the fact that SBS would make such a poor hiring decision provides yet another reason why the public broadcaster should be privatised,” wrote Simon Breheny, Director of the Legal Rights Project at the Institute of Public Affairs.

But others have rallied behind the sacked McIntyre, with The Australian Financial Review’s state political reporter Geoff Winestock daring Fairfax Media to fire him for tweeting: “Ridiculous. Frightening. I also think Anzacs were racist yobs and Anzac Day is a death cult. Sack me Fairfax”.

Ridiculous. Frightening. I also think Anzacs were racist yobs and Anzac Day is a death cult. Sack me Fairfax. http://t.co/V1MjQaxcrC

— Geoff Winestock (@GeoffWinestock) April 26, 2015

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said Mr McIntyre had breached the station’s Code of Conduct and social media policy.

“Respect for Australian audiences is paramount at SBS,” Mr Ebeid and Mr Shipp said in a statement.

“SBS apologises for any offence or harm caused by Mr McIntyre’s comments which in no way reflect the views of the network. SBS supports our Anzacs and has devoted unprecedented resources to coverage of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.”