ABC and RMIT Fact Check split after seven years

The taxpayer-funded broadcaster and RMIT University will cease their longstanding fact-checking partnership after a series of controversies including bias and operating without certification.

RMIT ABC Fact Check director Russell Skelton.

The ABC and RMIT University longstanding fact-checking partnership will end after a series of issues including accusations of bias in the content it checked.

RMIT ABC Fact Check was established in 2017 but it was this week revealed the taxpayer-funded broadcaster and Melbourne-based university will cease working together after June 30.

The ABC paid RMIT more than $670,000 as part of the joint fact-checking venture to assess the accuracy of claims made by politicians, public figures and advocacy groups, including $165,000 annually since 2020 to help pay for staff, equipment and resources.

The RMIT FactLab, another fact-checking unit, also said it worked “hand-in-hand” with RMIT ABC Fact Check but this reference was later deleted from the university’s website.

Both fact-checking divisions are led by journalist Russell Skelton.

Fact Check and FactLab came under intense scrutiny after Sky News Australia revealed the hubs did not hold International Fact-Checking Network certification despite conducting regular fact checks.

During the voice referendum debate, Skelton also retweeted numerous pro-voice posts including by Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney on his social media account X, formerly Twitter.

An RMIT spokeswoman said through the partnership with the ABC “important work” was “accomplished by RMIT ABC Fact Check.”

The decision to cease the joint venture also came after the ABC revealed it was establishing its own internal fact-checking division called ABC News Verify and no longer required the services of RMIT.

“The ABC has made the decision to establish a dedicated verification team, ABC NEWS Verify, which will operate in-house,” an RMIT spokeswoman said.

“As a result, the partnership between RMIT and ABC for RMIT ABC Fact Check will conclude at the end of the current agreement.”

ABC were contacted but did not respond to questions.