Malcolm Turnbull outed as source for ABC conspiracy story on leadership spill: Paul Barry

ABC political editor Andrew Probyn “outed’’ Malcolm Turnbull as source for his Libs leadership spill conspiracy story says Media Watch’s Paul Barry.

Media Watch host Paul Barry claims Malcolm Turnbull was outed as the source for the ABC’s leadership spill conspiracy story. Picture: AFP.

Paul Barry, host of the ABC’s Media Watch, has claimed the broadcaster’s political editor Andrew Probyn “all but outed” Malcolm Turnbull as the source for an ABC report claiming Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes conspired in the Liberal leadership spill, adding that the former Prime Minister had a “major role” in losing his own job.

In Media Watch tonight Barry said that while reports of News Corp and Seven West Media bosses conspiring to run a media campaign to oust Mr Turnbull were plausible, they ultimately rested on a “second-hand at best” account of a purported private conversation between Mr Murdoch and Mr Stokes.

On whether there was concrete evidence of such a plan, Barry said: “Well, it does all rest on that private conversation between Murdoch and Stokes. So, who is telling us what was said? Well, it’s certainly not Murdoch. And Stokes says it’s not him. So, who could it be? Without actually naming his source, Probyn all but outed our former PM.

“The informant was obviously not in the room,” Barry said.

Barry also criticised the ABC report for “stupidly” running a graphic implying that Mr Stokes and Mr Murdoch exchanged a text message conversation which mentioned that “Malcolm must go”.

“The implication is that Murdoch then ordered his papers to bring Turnbull down. So, is it plausible? You bet it is. For decades Murdoch has been interfering in Australian, American and British politics and trying to get his preferred leader over the line,” Barry said.

The program also examined political coverage of News Corp publications, concluding that, while an investigation by the program four weeks ago “saw no evidence” of campaigning to bring Mr Turnbull down, The Australian “hardly rallied for him to stay.”

Barry also criticised Mr Turnbull for contributing to his own downfall

“Let’s face it, Malcolm also had a major role. Had he not lost 38 Newspolls in a row, and pissed off his supporters and his enemies, he wouldn’t have had to worry about what News Corp thought,” Barry said.

“He would still be sitting comfortably in The Lodge, and the Libs would not be in such disarray.”