ABC issues apologies to News Corp racing journalist Trenton Akers

The public broadcaster has apologised to a News Corp journalist after mistakenly airing footage of him instead of a disqualified horse racing trainer.

Racing reporter Trenton Akers. Picture: Tara Croser

The ABC has apologised to a News Corp journalist for mistakenly including footage of him in a TV report instead of vision of disqualified Toowoomba horse racing identity Ben Currie.

In May, ABC Brisbane’s 7pm bulletin aired a 30-second report discussing Currie’s suspension from the sport after his horse was found with cocaine in its system.

During the news report an ABC newsreader explained that Currie had pleaded not guilty at a Queensland Racing Integrity Commission hearing and he “strenuously denied giving the horse cocaine”.

He received an 18-month disqualification from racing.

During the May 23 report the ABC ran multiple clips of Mr Currie while also mistakenly airing footage of Akers, a News Corp racing journalist, who was attending the hearing as part of his work duties.

The report included vision of Akers standing outside the hearing and sitting down using his mobile phone while the newsreader said Mr Currie “pleaded not guilty at the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission”.

Shortly after the vision aired Akers was contacted by multiple people about the mix-up that included vision of him doing his job.

Akers’s lawyer contacted the ABC about the footage and the public broadcaster responded by offering an apology and removing the footage.

News Corp’s editorial director of racing and wagering Matt Williams said the mistake was an embarrassment for the ABC.

“I can’t fathom how this rubbish was aired on our taxpayer-funded national broadcaster,” he said.

“It was a complete howler and their apology to Trenton, while a long time coming, was the least they could do.

“Pure incompetence, not a lack of funding, was to blame for this mistake.”

The ABC published an apology on its website last week and news presenter Lexy Hamilton-Smith also read out an apology to Akers during its 7pm news bulletin last Tuesday.

She said the report mistakenly included footage of Akers “filmed at the venue while he attended in his capacity as a racing journalist”.

“The ABC accepts that Mr Akers has absolutely no involvement with the matter reported in that story.

“The ABC sincerely apologies to Mr Akers for any hurt or distress caused by this error.”

The ABC also published an apology on its website.