Malcolm Turnbull accuses ABC journalists of inaccuracy, bias

Malcolm Turnbull has taken aim at reporting by ABC journalists, accusing them of inaccuracy and bias.

Malcolm Turnbull says he is concerned that there have been too many cases of inaccurate reporting from the ABC.

Malcolm Turnbull has taken aim at ABC journalists, accusing them of inaccuracy, bias and has expressed his disappointment in the quality of the broadcaster’s reporting.

“There has been too many cases of simply inaccurate reporting,” the Prime Minister told Melbourne’s 3AW radio station this morning.

“I think often some presenters and programs are biased more to the left, but what I’ve found disappointing in recent times is the quality of the journalism, it is the lack of accuracy. The ABC has got an obligation under its act for news and current affairs to be accurate and impartial. Now obviously impartiality is in the eye of the beholder and people have different views, but accuracy is different. And I am concerned there have been too many cases of inaccurate reporting.”

The comments come six weeks after Turnbull’s office sent a letter to the ABC raising 11 grievances over a television story authored by journalist Emma Alberici about research and innovation spending. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield also lodged a complaint about the same report.

Mr Turnbull’s office alleged the Alberici report contained factual errors and numerous miscalculations of spending figures. The ABC issued a slight correction but ultimately stood by the story.

“I think that as the national broadcaster … the ABC has an obligation to ensure when they are putting out the news that it is accurate and factual and that if they make a mistake they promptly and prominently correct it,” Mr Turnbull said this morning.

The Prime Minister did however reiterate that no government under his leadership would ever consider privatising the ABC.

“It’ll never be privatised under any government ever,” he said.

“Well I can certainly speak for myself, it’ll never be privatised under any government I lead. In the business of political predictions which is perilous, I think we would agree that the ABC will always be in public ownership.”

This comes just a week after the Liberal Party’s peak council voted overwhelmingly to privatise the national broadcaster.

The vote came in a debate on Saturday among about 110 council delegates representing Liberal branches from across the country.

Council delegate Mitchell Collier, the federal vice president of the Young Liberals, said he had enjoyed ABC programs such as Bananas in Pyjamas during his childhood but said there was no economic case to keep the broadcaster in public hands.