ABC review found its coverage on the voice referendum was dominated by Yes voices

Report finds the public broadcaster’s coverage was dominated by Yes voters, with only four of 120 complaints breaching editorial standards.

The ABC’s coverage of the voice referendum was dominated by Yes voices and despite the ombudsman investigating more than 120 complaints – many relating to bias – only four breached editorial standards.

In the ABC’s 2023 Voice to Parliament Referendum report compiled by editorial policies manager Mark Maley, also the ABC’s Referendum Coverage Review Committee chair, it found 51 per cent of voices on the referendum were in favour of a Yes vote, while just 23 per cent were in favour of a No vote.

The report, released on Monday, showed 24 per cent of the remaining voices were neutral and two per cent were undecided.

Radio National’s breakfast program, led by Patricia Karvelas, was described in the report as playing an “influential role in the media coverage” and “it regularly created news and delivered impactful interviews.”

“Stand out interviews included: Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton, Tony Abbott and Anthony Albanese,” Maley said in report.

It also said RN’s coverage including on programs Late Night Live and Between the Lines “sought a diversity of perspectives.”

Between the Lines is hosted by Tom Switzer who recently announced he was quitting the ABC – he is often described as one of the broadcaster’s few conservative voices – and the report stated that he interviewed a range of voices including Sky News Australia host Peta Credlin and he held a debate between the Yes and No sides.

The report also showed Indigenous spokespeople were the most dominant group who were given coverage on the ABC’s platforms, followed by academics and the general public, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was the leading spokesman during the referendum debate for the Yes side.

No campaigner, Indigenous businessman Warren Mundine was the leading No voice on the ABC.

In the review it revealed that Ombudsman Fiona Cameron received 383 complaints relating to the referendum coverage and 82 per cent of grievances were about claims of bias or lack of balance.

ABC Insiders host David Speers interviewing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land.

ABC news online (53 complaints), 7pm news (35), Q+A (34), The Drum (28) and Insiders (22) received the most complaints.

The report found 121 complaints were investigated by the Ombudsman’s office and only four were found to breach editorial standards.

The report also declared that balance of people interviewed by ABC broadcasters and reporters was not required.

“Teams were explicitly told that 50/50 balance of advocates was not required,” Mr Maley said. “The goal was to ensure that audiences on all platforms were presented with the main arguments for and against the propositions in the referendum on every platform within a reasonable time.

“This was achieved.”

In the report it noted the issues covering the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land in August and inability to get a sufficient number of No campaigners in the coverage.

“The Indigenous and planning teams knew it was going to predominantly feature Yes perspectives so they tried hard to include other voices,” the report said.

Mr Mundine, who pulled out of appearing on the special Q+A episode that aired in Garma, told The Australian at the time the Indigenous festival was a “love fest on top of a love fest.”

“It’s a rock festival for the Yes campaign,” he said after pulling out due to health reasons.

At Senate estimates in October, it was revealed the ABC spent more than $150,000 in flights, accommodation and taxis in sending 37 staff, compared to 38 staff who were sent to the festival in 2022 at a cost of $186,000.

The report outlined that the ABC used two data measurements to track coverage of the voice referendum including externally commissioned Isentia analysis and an internal tacker which required staff to fill out a form detailing interviews conducted relating to the voice.

The spreadsheet included a list to complete including name of the speaker, whether the speaker Indigenous, their position and where they live.