ABC admits ‘issues’ with accuracy, impartiality in Alberici tax reports

The ABC has admitted there were “issues’’ in two reports by star economics correspondent Emma Alberici.

ABC Economics correspondent Emma Alberici.

The ABC last night admitted there were issues with accuracy and impartiality in two reports by its star economics correspondent Emma Alberici after an unprecedented 1000-word complaint from the Prime Minister’s office claimed her coverage of corporate tax cuts used information “based on outdated figures” and included a phrase that was “a direct lift from ALP talking points”.

The ABC complaints-handling unit, Audience & Consumer Affairs, is reviewing complaints from the government and business leaders but the ABC last night defended Alberici, a former host of Lateline.

“The ABC stands by its chief economics correspondent Emma Alberici, who makes a valuable contribution to the coverage of financial issues and national debate,” a spokesman told The Australian.

“The reports were published at 5.30am on Wednesday, 14 February. ABC news director Gaven Morris flagged his concerns with his managers at about 7am and by midday Editorial Policies had provided the advice there were issues with accuracy in the news report and impartiality in the analysis report,” the spokesman said.

“On that basis, ABC News decided to amend the news report and withdraw the analysis piece until it was clear whether it could be reworked and resubmitted.”

P M s damning 6000 word critique

The corporation said these decisions were taken before Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attacked the reports in question time later that day and before his office, the Treasurer’s office, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and Business Council of Australian chief executive Jennifer Westacott complained to the ABC.

“To clarify, ABC News had already made the decision to withdraw the analysis report and amend the news report before that time,” the spokesman said.

But the analysis was not withdrawn until the next day and the news report was amended and republished on Friday, along with a note explaining the changes.

“ABC News stresses the analysis report was withdrawn from publication on the basis it did not comply with opinion guidelines for ABC journalists,” the spokesman said. “ABC News acknowledges its subediting and publishing process in this case did not meet our standards. We have already implemented changes to strengthen these processes.”

The complaint from the Prime Minister’s office, a copy of which was obtained by The Australian, said Alberici’s coverage of the issues around the government’s planned corporate tax cuts “confuses income with profit”.

“Corporate income tax is payable on profits, not gross income,” the complaint says. “Alberici has a habit of including comments from and interviewing only people who agree with her — ie. Don Hamson (accomplished but not an economist) and Saul Eslake.

“And she didn’t bother reporting that in 2011 Eslake advocated a company tax rate for all non­-mining companies of 27 per cent.

“How is this fair, objective reporting?

“It confirms the fact that she begins with a premise or a fixed viewpoint, and she sets out to prosecute that argument, and ignore or undermine anyone who disagrees. She then proceeds to call the proposed company tax cuts a ‘giveaway’ on the basis of loose facts as described above. This phrase is a direct lift from ALP talking points.”

The ABC specifically denied the accusations that Alberici obtained information from the ALP or GetUp! and that she interviewed only those people who agreed with her.

Another part of the complaint read: “So egregious is the piece in its errors that the (Australian Taxation Office) felt the need to issue a statement in response.”

Senator Fifield’s letter complained that the coverage contained “multiple factual errors and misrepresentations in breach of the ABC’ s editorial standards”.

“It is neither fair, balanced, accurate nor impartial,” Senator Fifield wrote.

“It fails to present a balance of views on the corporate tax policy.

“I understand that the Prime Minister’s office has discussed these concerns with the ABC’s news director, Mr Gaven Morris. Rather than address the concerns raised, Ms Alberici ‘liked’ and retweeted a politically partisan attack on the government by the Opposition Leader.”

The ABC responded that such a retweet was not against ABC editorial policies. Alberici’s analysis cited figures from the Congressional Budget Office, but the complaint said: “She has been told several times that this report is based on outdated figures.”

The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee recommended last week that parliament pass a bill amending the ABC Act to require the ABC board to ensure the gathering and presentation of news and information was not only accurate and impartial but also “fair” and “balanced”.