Right-wing think tank IPA claims bias among Voice fact-checkers

A conservative think tank says fact checking agencies were overwhelmingly biased against the Voice to Parliament’s No campaign.

A conservative think tank says fact checking agencies, verifying claims made during the Voice to Parliament referendum campaign, were overwhelmingly biased against the No campaign.

Institute of Public Affairs research analysed 187 fact checks undertaken by AAP FactCheck, RMIT FactLab and RMIT/ABC Fact Check between the 2022 federal election and the October 14 referendum date.

The organisation found 91 per cent, or 170, of those fact check articles published disputed claims made by supporters of the No side of the debate.

Almost all of those claims were found to be false.

Yes campaign director Dean Parkin. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Conversely, 56 per cent of the remaining 9 per cent of claims made by Yes supporters, 17 in total, were found to be false.

IPA director of legal rights and report author John Storey told Sky News Australia that RMIT Fact lab never found a single Yes claim to be false.

He also raised concerns the three organisations were fact-checking subjective content such as opinion pieces and satire.

“They as often as not are checking opinions, they’re even checking satire,” Mr Storey told Sky.

“It has nothing to do with newsworthiness. It has nothing to do with proving facts. They’re pushing an ideological agenda, and it was extremely biased.”

The October 14 referendum was ultimately defeated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

AAP FactCheck editor Ben James said his organisation was impartial and committed to truth and accuracy.

“AAP FactCheck’s work during the Voice referendum was representative of the misinformation and disinformation circulating at the time,” Mr James said.

RMIT FactLab and RMIT ABC Fact Check have also been contacted for comment.

Sky News digital editor Jack Houghton published an article in August claiming RMIT was operating with an expired certification from the International Fact Checking Network.

“Being a signatory to the international fact-checking network requires them to sign up to a code of principles, one of which is to be unbiased and balanced, including not unduly targeting one side,” Mr Storey said.

The Yes campaign was overwhelmingly defeated at the October referendum.

Originally published as Right-wing think tank IPA claims bias among Voice fact-checkers