Besmirching ministers’ reputations reprehensible

I am an ABC tragic and have regarded it as the only in-depth broadcast media in Australia. Nonetheless, I was appalled and mystified by the Four Corners decimation of the Attorney-General, Christian Porter (“Row over ABC’s sex expose on ministers”, 10/11). The program interviewed so many people who commented on Porter’s various behaviours over the years without actually honing in on anything he’s done that is actually wrong.

And yes, if his behaviour is as described, then he deserves condemnation and reform, but surely not in this public domain. It was clearly the business of the party or the government to pull him into line before it all became so toxic. The program was fine in outlining the general poor attitude to women in Canberra, but then to single Porter out and present one story after the other is very poor journalism. Alan Tudge got a serve as well, but not in the same concentrated way as Porter. And to extract the segment where Malcolm Turnbull says he got Porter in in 2017 and told him off and show this on the nightly news really gilds the lily.

And why now? This is the bit that mystifies me. Is it just Turnbull getting back at Porter for challenging him over Peter Dutton? Or was Turnbull asked to do this as a means of moving Porter on before a new A-G is installed. Or was it just because the ABC perceived Porter as “privileged”, as was pointed out a number of times?

To besmirch a person’s character and reputation in such a public way as this without giving the opportunity for rebuttal except on one issue is reprehensible. Shame on you, Four Corner and the ABC.

Peter Sherlock, Glen Forrest, WA

Genetics and the law of nature are powerful forces behind the ever-present magnetism between females and males of all species. Ministers are not that special to be exempted from that. Relationships between superior and subordinate in the workplace cannot be avoided but they require rules to avoid the possibilities of an abuse of power, conflicts of interest and negative impact on the organisation.

Ministers have a special responsibility for a high standard of private and public behaviour. The accusations levelled against Christian Porter and Alan Tudge require detailed attention at the highest level — which is the Prime Minister.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA

Interesting — but not surprising — the reporter spearheading the Four Corners attack on Christian Porter and Alan Tudge is none other than Louise Milligan. This was the woman who used a full program on the ABC to try to bring down Cardinal George Pell. And we all know where that ended — seven-nil in the High Court. Her handmaidens in the national broadcaster’s latest foray against the government are Kristina Keneally and Sarah Hanson-Young, with running commentary from Malcolm Turnbull. That says it all.

P.C. Wilson, Miami, Qld

Without the ABC’s artfully crafted narrative, painting a messy picture of young uni student Christian Porter chasing skirt, being obnoxious and drinking too much, the rest of the story would be a non-event. The selective nature of Aunty’s morality squad needs broadening to examine the private lives of all elected members of Parliament.

Lynda Morrison, Bicton, WA

Further revenge from this disgruntled former prime minister is a gift to the ABC beat-up over the sex lives of Coalition MPs (“Q&A: Turnbull concedes he may have been too forgiving of Porter”, 10/11). This is the same leader who almost threw away the 2016 federal election and then lent support to “independent” challenges to Greg Hunt and Josh Frydenberg in 2019, not to mention twice letting down Dave Sharma in his campaign to win his former seat of Wentworth.

Contrast this disloyalty with the actions of Tony Abbott, whom Turnbull deposed, and whose interventions have always concerned policies rather than people.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

The ABC’s Four Corners was a total hatchet job, particularly on Attorney-General Christian Porter, with assistant hatcheteer, Malcolm Turnbull, at his sanctimonious worst. Turnbull tried a “this hurts me more than it hurts you” pose, which failed miserably, and it’s patently clear his two-year-old grudge over the loss of the leadership, rather than subsiding, has grown more edges.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW