ABC boss admits the broadcaster ignored concerns about altered audio involving the November Platoon

ABC boss David Anderson admits the broadcaster's legal team ignored a letter raising concerns over audio depicting an Australian soldier shooting at unarmed civilians in Afghanistan.

Former commander Heston Russell received $390,000 in damages plus legal costs over multiple stories published by the ABC. Picture: Channel 7

The ABC has admitted it was warned two years ago about concerns over doctored audio depicting an Australian soldier firing six shots at unarmed civilians in Afghanistan, but ignored the information.

In an extraordinary admission on Friday afternoon, ABC managing director David Anderson said information given to the ABC’s legal department two years ago “raising concerns about the audio editing” was never passed on.

“Regrettably, at no point was this letter, or the information in the letter, disseminated to ABC News,” he said in a written statement.

“I am now commissioning an independent review of the issues that have been raised with the online and broadcast story to fully understand what has occurred and make any necessary recommendations.”

Last Sunday Channel 7’s investigative program Spotlight revealed the issues with the doctored footage involving the November Platoon during a military operation that took place in 2012, led by former commander Heston Russell.

Channel 7 Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett interviews former soldier Heston Russell.

The doctored audio depicted an Australian soldier firing six shots at unarmed civilians in Afghanistan – a misrepresentation of the original footage during which only one shot could be heard.

Mr Russell received $390,000 in damages plus legal costs over multiple stories published by the ABC that included allegations regarding the death of a prisoner in Afghanistan in 2012.

The video aired on the ABC’s flagship news and current affairs program 7.30 and was removed last week after Channel 7 contacted the ABC about the problems with it.

Mr Russell maintains that the footage does not show him shooting from the helicopter but said the ABC built a “narrative” around him “shooting at unarmed civilians.”

Spotlight showed the unedited footage and Mr Russell told Spotlight reporter Liam Bartlett:

“This is the exact footage that my legal team provided to the ABC and their legal team just prior to our trial when on three separate times they kept trying to rely on their truth defence, saying it was me shooting out of the helicopter.

“Two things: first and foremost, it’s not me; secondly, here’s the full context – they were not unarmed civilians.

“Even after we gave the ABC the footage, the narrative was that I was shooting at unarmed ­civilians.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said earlier in the week she would be seeking a full briefing from the ABC about what occurred with the problematic audio.

She also said it was a “very serious issue that does need to be addressed in a transparent way.”

ABC news director Justin Stevens on Tuesday questioned the use of the word “doctored” used by The Australian to describe the altered audio and said editorial staff who worked on the story including Jo Puccini, Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson were not at fault.

He did not say whether the public broadcaster would apologise to Mr Russell.

“I think we need to in the first instance … exhaustively get to the bottom of what’s happened,” Stevens said.

“As I said we will be upfront and transparent at the appropriate time in coming days as to what happened.”

ABC's director of news Justin Stevens. Photo: Nadir Kinani.

Addressing the apology specifically, Stevens said: “I’m not going to pre-empt that.”

Mr Anderson said the issues with the audio content aired alongside the footage was an “error” and it “should not have occurred”.
“Other allegations have subsequently been made about the ABC’s reporting and use of the helmet cam footage, including how it was edited in the 7.30 broadcast,” he said on Friday.

“The public interest issues raised by the stories remain valid.

“The ABC is removing the full online article and associated video content until further notice. “Further information on the review will be provided and I will give an update on the findings at an appropriate time.”

Mr Russell declined to comment.