Coalition senator Andrew Bragg goes ‘rogue’ on ABC
The Coalition senator who announced an inquiry into the ABC’s complaints handling procedures is understood to have been rapped over the knuckles by the Prime Minister’s office.
The Coalition senator who announced an inquiry into the ABC’s complaints handling procedures is understood to have been rapped over the knuckles by the Prime Minister’s office at the weekend.
NSW senator Andrew Bragg announced the ABC complaints inquiry last week, prompting the public broadcaster’s chair, Ita Buttrose, on Sunday to accuse the government of “political interference”.
But some senior government sources are furious with Senator Bragg, and have told The Australian they believe he went “rogue” in announcing the inquiry in the first place.
Senator Bragg, 37, was promoted by the Coalition to head the Senate’s communications committee only two months ago, seemingly with a brief to be the government’s focal point for scrutinising decisions made at the ABC.
Coalition figures say they were blindsided by Senator Bragg’s announcement on Thursday of both the complaints inquiry and the recall of ABC managing director David Andersen to the Senate for a 3½-hour hearing before the end of the year.
The Senate inquiry was largely prompted by complaints about the documentary Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire, by ABC investigative journalist Caro Meldrum-Hanna.
One of the complaints about Exposed concerned its allegations against former NSW Labor premier Neville Wran.
Seasoned members of the government now argue that Senator Bragg was “naive” and was “played” into calling the inquiry by some Labor figures such as NSW senator Tony Sheldon, who has publicly had a gripe with Wran’s treatment in Exposed.
Senior Coalition figures are furious that Senator Bragg has made the ABC complaints process a political issue that triggered Ms Buttrose’s strong reaction, and are examining ways to rapidly depoliticise and de-escalate the issue.
Senator Bragg declined to comment to The Australian.
The move has come as it can also be revealed that former News Corp and Foxtel chief executive Peter Tonagh will be elevated to the role of deputy chair of the ABC, under Ms Buttrose.
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