ABC ‘regrets’ unfairness in finance probes during Covid-19 pandemic

The ABC has expressed ‘regret’ over mistakes in its coverage of some of the biggest financial decisions made by the federal government during the pandemic.

Senator Bragg criticised the ABC’s business reporting and added that the story about the responsible lending laws was not an isolated incident of unfair reporting.

The ABC has expressed “regret” over serious errors in its coverage of some of the biggest financial decisions made by the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In correspondence seen by The Australian, the ABC just last month conceded an article published in February about the Morrison government’s plans to wind back responsible lending failed to give clear context as to why the legislative changes were being proposed.

In a letter of complaint to the national broadcaster, NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg wrote that the article — which carried an online headline of “Financial counsellors plead to keep responsible lending laws” — failed to “include any counter views, or contributions from the government, industry organisations or third parties”.

The article in dispute said financial counsellors would feel the impact of debt and irresponsible lending for years if the federal government proceeded to ease responsible lending laws.

The ABC’s head of audience and consumer affairs, Kirstin McLiesh, responded to Senator Bragg last month, conceding the article could have been more fairly written.

“ABC News agrees that the story would be improved by providing context about the government’s reasons for pursuing changes to the laws, and its view on the adequacy of consumer protections, and regrets that this content was not included in the story as originally published,” Ms McLiesh wrote.

The story has since been updated online, with paragraphs explaining why Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced the changes to responsible lending laws, and a video inserted with an interview with the Australian Banking Association’s chief executive, Anna Bligh, explaining the legislative changes.

The ABC was asked why the clarification to the story was not made public, along with other corrections it publishes online.

NSW Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

A spokesman said it was dealt with by putting a note at the bottom of the story explaining the changes that were made.

Senator Bragg criticised the ABC’s business reporting and added that the story about the responsible lending laws was not an isolated incident of unfair reporting.

“I think it’s very important that the ABC business and economics coverage is balanced, as we face the biggest economic shock in a century,” he said.

“I’m very concerned that there’s been repeated failures to comply with the ABC’s editorial standards which makes you wonder what is the agenda.

“If the ABC makes a song and dance about an issue and it’s going to be wrong, the retraction should have the same steam as the initial claim.”

The ABC was last week also forced to correct reports it aired relating to JobKeeper claims made by employers.

The reports were made across its radio, television and online channels on January 29 and were updated last week.

The correction said the original reports “did not make clear the ATO’s investigations into employers’ JobKeeper claims for potentially fictitious employees including prisoners and the dead were occurring at the application stage, prior to JobKeeper payments being made”.

Other corrections issued by the broadcaster this year include those on JobSeeker recipient numbers and youth unemployment levels. The ABC spokesman said the broadcaster’s coverage of federal government’s fiscal policies “has been thorough and fair”.