ABC stands by new Alberici report after another Turnbull complaint

The ABC is standing by a report authored by Emma Alberici despite another formal complaint from Malcolm Turnbull.

Emma Alberici is the subject of fresh complaints to the ABC. Picture: Jono Searle.

The ABC is standing by a new report authored by chief economics correspondent Emma Alberici despite receiving two formal complaints from the Turnbull government.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has raised 11 grievances to the ABC in a letter sent on May 7 in relation to a television story about research and innovation spending, which went to air the previous evening.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield also lodged a complaint to the ABC about the same report.

The complaints are separate to Alberici’s story on multinational tax avoidance, which also attracted complaints from the Turnbull government and was subsequently corrected.

Correspondence obtained by The Australian alleges the new Alberici report contained factual errors and numerous miscalculations in terms of spending figures.

Turnbull’s office complained that Alberici had wrongly described UTS professor Roy Green as an adviser to the Coalition government, an error since clarified by the ABC.

“The stories state that Roy Green is “One of the Government’s own advisers”. Roy Green is not and has not been an adviser to this government,” Turnbull’s office wrote.

“He was contracted by a Labor chaired and controlled Senate Committee to complete a review into Australia’s innovation system which was initiated in 2014.”

In a statement sent to The Australian, a spokesman for the ABC said: “The report focused on concerns and criticisms raised by experts regarding the approach taken to innovation by Australian business, and to some degree the government.

“The ABC’s independent complaints review department has investigated the complaint. Apart from one clarification, which was promptly acknowledged — that Dr Roy Green is not currently an advisor to the government — all aspects of the complaint were rejected.

“The review concluded that the story was accurate, newsworthy, in the public interest and presented in context. ABC News stands by the story.”

The letter from Turnbull’s office also complained that Alberici’s story had asserted a company called Carbon Revolution deserved government support but failed to mention two grants it received from the Turnbull government in addition to personal visits by Turnbull.

“Ms Alberici cites Carbon Revolution an example of an innovative Australian business that deserves support. The reports fail to mention that the Prime Minister has visited Carbon Revolution twice, both of which were media opportunities,” the letter said.

“Further, the company has received $7.5 million in grant support under the current government ($5 million to establish a manufacturing facility and $2.5 million under Round One of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund). Why wasn’t this mentioned? Why wasn’t footage of the PM’s previous visits used?”

Fifield’s letter to ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie reads: “The report also relied on what I understand are erroneous figures to allege that the Government has reduced flmding for science, innovation, research and higher education.

“These errors and omissions — together with several others left viewers and listeners with the impression that the Turnbull Government is not committed to supporting imiovation and that our approach is strongly criticised even by our own advisers. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

In response, Guthrie wrote: “The Director of ABC News, Analysis & Investigations, Gaven Morris, has reviewed the complaint ... Gaven agrees that the description that Dr Roy Green is advising the government is misleading.”

ABC News have referred the complaint to the ABC’s independent Audience and Consumer Affairs team for investigation.

It comes after Turnbull and Fifield raised objections to a news story and analysis piece about multinational tax avoidance.

The ABC subsequently amended the articles, and admitted mistakes were made in the editorial process. The issue could come up again when the ABC fronts senate estimates hearings today.