ABC will answer to Luna Park fire claims

Labor will use Senate Estimates to interrogate the public broadcaster over the integrity of its documentary into the train fire.

An aerial view of the damage following the fire on the Ghost train ride at Luna Park in 1979. Picture: Fire Australia's First Century Historical

Labor will use Senate Estimates to interrogate the ABC over the integrity of its documentary into the Luna Park ghost train fire and adherence to editorial policies given its claim Neville Wran was corrupt has been widely discredited.

Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said the ABC had editorial independence but noted the many criticisms of the program for alleging Mr Wran had a relationship with crime boss Abe Saffron and organised for the Luna Park lease to go to his front company.

“Concerns have been expressed, including from high profile Australians, that the program is not a fair or credible reflection on former NSW premier Neville Wran,” Ms Rowland said. “At Senate Estimates next week, Labor will have the opportunity to ascertain whether the ABC has received complaints about the program in question, and if so, what it is doing to ensure it meets ABC editorial standards.”

“On a personal note, the observation I will make is that, both during his political career and in the years following, mercilessly attacking Neville Wran became a sport. Wran came from nothing, had a successful legal and political career, and his legacy speaks for itself.”

Meanwhile, Bob Carr has called on the ABC not to rebroadcast the documentary and to remove it from online platforms given the unproven allegations about Mr Wran.

The ABC solely relied on Rosemary Opitz, a former employee of Mr Saffron, to claim he and Wran were “pally” and had Friday drinks together.

The ABC solely relied on former policeman Paul Egge to claim Wran conspired with High Court judge Lionel Murphy to ensure the lease went to Mr Saffron, even though his allegation has been investigated by several inquiries and found not to be substantiated.

“I take particular exception to an employee of Saffron babbling a far-fetched allegation that Wran dropped in for drinks with her boss, who was Sydney’s celebrity gangster,” Mr Carr said. “That’s an unfair, unworthy allegation to throw at a formidable political leader and one that was never hurled his way when he was alive – even by his most devoted political and media enemies.”

The ABC has not responded in detail to complaints but a spokeswoman said it “fully supports” the documentary.