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During the Howard Government years, ABC TV's masthead political programs were anchored by Labor affiliated journalists. Lateline host Maxine McKew (pictured) ran for Labor against Liberal Prime Minister John Howard in the 2007 Election.

The ABC's requirement of impartiality has lead to persistent debates on ABC impartiality. External critics have complained of left-wing political bias at the broadcaster, citing a prominence of Labor Party-connected journalists hosting masthead political programs or a tendency to favour "progressive" over "conservative" political views on issues such as immigration, refugees, the republic, multiculturalism, reconciliation, feminism, environmentalism, anti-Americanism, gay marriage, budgeting and the like.[1][2][3][4][5]

Internal and external reports have drawn different conclusions on the question of bias at the ABC. A 2013 University of the Sunshine Coast study of the voting intentions of journalists found that 73.6 per cent of ABC journalists supported Labor or the The Greens - with 41% supporting the Greens (whereas only around 10% of people in the general population voted Green).[6][7] A 2004 Roy Morgan media credibility survey found that media professionals regarded ABC Radio as the most accurate news source in the country.[8]

Conservative commentators such as Andrew Bolt,[9] Tim Blair and Gerard Henderson[9] accuse the ABC of a left-wing bias. A 2009 study by academics Joshua Gans and Andrew Leigh found the ABC overall "close to the center position" but with its television news "significantly slanted" towards the Coalition[10] In rejecting criticisms of bias, ABC journalist Annabel Crabb said in 2015 that the organisation gives "voices to Australians who otherwise wouldn't be heard, on topics that are too uncommercial or too remote or too hard to be covered by anyone else, broadcasting into areas from which others have long withdrawn resources."[11] ABC journalist turned NSW Liberal MLA Pru Goward said of the organisation: " I have no doubt there was left-wing bias, I certainly thought it when I was there", while ABC journalist turned Federal Labor politician Maxine McKew said there was no left wing bias, though "what I detected years ago in the ABC, much more of a collectivist philosophy".[12]

Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke considered the ABC's coverage of the 1991 Gulf War to be biased.[13] In 1996, conservative Opposition Leader John Howard refused to have Kerry O'Brien of the ABC moderate the television debates with Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating because Howard saw O'Brien as biased against the Coalition.[14]

During the subsequent Howard Government years, ABC TV's masthead political programs were anchored by journalists with Labor affiliations: the 7.30 Report was hosted by former Whitlam staffer Kerry O'Brien; the Insiders program by former Hawke staffer Barrie Cassidy and the Lateline program by Maxine McKew who went on to defeat Liberal Prime Minister John Howard as the Labor candidate for the seat of Bennelong in 2007, at the same time as ABC Sydney News weatherman Mike Bailey ran for Labor against Liberal minister Joe Hockey.[15][16]

In the subsequent Rudd-Gillard period, Cassidy retained his position at Insiders, while O'Brien shifted to host Four Corners in 2011.[17][18] Chris Uhlmann, husband of Labor MP Gai Brodtmann, was appointed as co-host of the 7.30 current affairs program.[19] Sydney ABC News anchor Juanita Phillips began a relationship with Labor's Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet.[20][21][22][23]


Abbott-Turnbull Government (2013–present)
[edit]

Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott perceived the ABC to be left wing and hostile to his government, while his successor Malcolm Turnbull enjoyed better relations with the National Broadcaster. When the ABC co-operated with The Guardian to publish stolen documents purporting to reveal monitoring of Indonesian officials by Australian spy agencies under the Rudd Government, Abbott told 2GB radio: "A lot of people feel at the moment that the ABC instinctively takes everyone's side but Australia's".[24][25][26] Abbott reportedly called the Q&A program a "Lefty Lynch Mob".[27] When it invited a man convicted of threatening Commonwealth officials to participate in questioning one of his ministers amid a heightened terrorism alert in June 2015, Abbott asked the makers of the program: "whose side are you on?".[28][29] The ABC found that there had been an "error of judgement', but repeated the program later in the week, prompting Abbott to say that "heads should roll" over the affair.[30] Abbott initiated a brief ministerial boycott of the Q&A program following the affair.[31]

The broadcaster was critical of Abbott when he broke an election-eve promise not to make cuts to the ABC, and required 4.6% cuts over five years as part of his "Budget repair" program.[32][33] In early 2015, an internal ABC review of its coverage of Joe Hockey's first Budget criticised the post-budget interviews by 7:30 and Lateline, finding that the interviewers had given the impression of bias.[34]

When Abbott lost the leadership to Turnbull in the September 2015 Liberal leadership spill, the hosts of the ABC's political programs spoke in favour of Abbott's demise. Kerry O'Brien and Barrie Cassidy, hosts respectively of the ABC's flagship weekly current affairs programs Four Corners and Insiders, welcomed the replacement of Abbott by Turnbull,[35][36] as did ABC radio commentators Fran Kelly[37] Paul Bongiorno[38] and Amanda Vanstone.[39] Fairfax and News Limited reported that Leigh Sales, the host of 7.30 gave Turnbull an unusually warm first interview following his toppling of Abbott.[40][41]

In a March 2016 interview with ABC Managing Director Mark Scott, Media Watch host Paul Barry examined the question of perceptions of left wing bias at the ABC. Scott noted that while perhaps the ABC was more concerned about gay marriage than about electricity prices, he did not accept the criticism of bias because "a lot of that criticism comes from right wing commentators and they wonder where are the strong right wing commentators on the ABC. We don't do that kind of journalism. We don't ask questions about our journalists' voting pattern and where their ideology are. We look at the journalism that they put to air and we have strong editorial standards..."[42] Following the interview, conservative ABC critic Andrew Bolt wrote "How can the man heading our biggest media organisation be so blind to the ABC's unlawful and dangerous Leftist bias?" while former Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes wrote for The Age that this interview indicated that ABC management had failed to recognise a clear problem of left wing bias among some capital city radio presenters.[43]

Over the period, ABC TV and radio hosts advocated strongly in support of same-sex marriage, upon which the wider Australian community and political parties were divided. When the Turnbull Government announced plans for a postal plebiscite on the issue, advocacy for change continued, prompting a call for restraint from the ABC's editorial policy manager Mark Maley.[44]

An interview by ABC presenter Joe O'Brien with Lyle Shelton was the subject of a complaint by the Australian Christian Lobby. Bringing up Ian Thorpe's swimming achievements, O'Brien asked Shelton "what right do you have to participate in that joy, and take national pride in those achievements, if you now deny him the right to feel like an equal and experience the joy of marriage?"[45] In rejecting any perceived bias, the ABC said "It was a 'devil's advocate' question and not inconsistent with standards".[46]

Opposition to Australia Day
[edit]

The ABC is criticised for giving undue support to opposition to Australia Day being held on 26 January.[47] In 2017, the ABC's youth radio network announced that, after extensive consultation and opinion polling, it would no longer play its Hottest 100 Australian music list on Australia Day, choosing instead to broadcast the playlist on the fourth weekend in January.[48] The Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said in response "I am bewildered by the ABC’s decision to move the Hottest 100 from Australia Day. The ABC shouldn’t be buying into this debate. Australia Day is our national day. The ABC should honour it and not mess with the Hottest 100."[49][50] In 2018, an opinion piece appeared on ABC's website suggesting the date should be moved to 1 January, citing symbolism.[51]

  1. ^ The AVC: An Overview; http://www.aph.gov.au; 11 August 2014
  2. ^ "The ABC of How To Complain". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NewTeethForAunty was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerry-obrien-opens-up-about-his-critics-his-family-and-a-new-life-in-byron-20101130-18el9.html#ixzz437fX64JG
  5. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerry-obrien-opens-up-about-his-critics-his-family-and-a-new-life-in-byron-20101130-18el9.html#ixzz437fX64JG
  6. ^ Hanusch, Folker. "Journalists in times of change: evidence from a new survey of Australia's journalistic workforce". Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. ^ Why the ABC is at odds with us; www.theaustralian.com.au; July 24, 2017
  8. ^ "10,13_tr66_media" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  9. ^ a b Bolt, Andrew (6 February 2007). "And here is the news from the ABC". Herald Sun. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
  10. ^ Gans, Joshua S. (9 December 2009). "How Partisan is the Press? Multiple Measures of Media Slant". SSRN 1521231. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  11. ^ Crabb, Annabel (28 June 2015). "Listen up: Democracy means even jerks get a say". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  12. ^ "ALP/ABC: spot the difference?". National Interest ABC Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Peter Mares. July 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  13. ^ Abbott's Bias Crusade: as simple as ABC; The Age; January 31, 2014
  14. ^ John Howard; Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography; Harper Collins; 2010; pp. 194 & 223
  15. ^ "Maxine McKew claims victory in Bennelong". Seven News. AAP. 1 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  16. ^ Weatherman Bailey Labor's newest recruit; May 22, 2007
  17. ^ "Kerry O'Brien moves to Four Corners". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  18. ^ "O'Brien to host Four Corners". ABC News. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  19. ^ Dick, Tim (3 December 2010). "7.30 Report loses one host, gets two". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010.
  20. ^ Le Marquand, Sarrah. "ABC news presenter Juanita Phillips and climate change minister Greg Combet are Australia's newest power couple".
  21. ^ Lewis, Steve. "Greg Combet took partner Juanita Phillips on first-class trip to Europe".
  22. ^ Dale, Amy. "Conflicting emotions for ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  23. ^ Knox, David. "ABC News presenter switch avoids conflict of interest". Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  24. ^ Pearlman, Jonathan (29 January 2014). "Tony Abbott says ABC unpatriotic". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  25. ^ "Australia's Tony Abbott calls broadcaster ABC unpatriotic". BBC. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  26. ^ "Prime Minister Tony Abbott says ABC not on Australia's side in interview with 2GB". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  27. ^ Tony Abbott reportedly calls Q&A a 'lefty lynch mob', as ABC agrees to external review of the show; news.com.au; 24 June 2015
  28. ^ 'Whose side are you on?' Tony Abbott lashes ABC's Q&A program; smh.com.au; June 23, 2015
  29. ^ Pearlman, Jonathan (25 June 2015). "Q&A: Tony Abbott says 'heads should roll' over Zaky Mallah episode, orders inquiry". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  30. ^ 'Heads should roll' at ABC over Q and A rerun Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine; Sky News; 25 June 2015
  31. ^ Q&A fallout: Tony Abbott orders frontbench ministers to boycott ABC show; SMH; 6 July 2015
  32. ^ McNair, Brian (19 November 2014). "ABC feels pain of broken promise: prepare for cut-price broadcasting". The Conversation. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  33. ^ Farr, Malcolm. "Government to reduce ABC funding by $254m over five years". Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  34. ^ Sarah Ferguson interview with Joe Hockey 'breached ABC bias guidelines': review; The Sydney Morning Herald; 17 February 2015
  35. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kerry-obrien-stepping-down-as-host-of-abctvs-four-corners-20151106-gkssti.html
  36. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-18/cassidy-the-rage-in-canberra-isnt-felt-elsewhere/6783840
  37. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2015/s4352244.htm
  38. ^ RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National, 8 March 2016
  39. ^ Counterpoint, ABC Radio National, 18 April 2016
  40. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/leigh-sales-criticised-for-softtouch-interview-with-malcolm-turnbull-20150921-gjrsmg.html
  41. ^ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&mode=premium&dest=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/softly-softly-as-leigh-sales-uses-kid-gloves-on-malcolm-turnbull/story-fna045gd-1227537789836&memtype=anonymous
  42. ^ Easter Special: An interview with Mark Scott; Media Watch; Episode 09, 28 March 2016.
  43. ^ ABC radio personalities need to tune out their left-wing bias; Jonathan Holmes, The Age; April 5, 2016
  44. ^ 'The ABC does not have a position on the issue': ABC tells staff to stop campaigning for same-sex marriage; www.news.com.au; August 10, 2017
  45. ^ Mitchell, Neil (28 August 2017). "ABC TV 'exposed': Neil Mitchell takes aim at 'disgraceful piece of television'". 3AW. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  46. ^ Denholm, Matthew (28 August 2017). "Christian lobby complains over ABC question". The Australian. Retrieved 29 August 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ ABC under fire for ‘politicising’ Australia Day by moving Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown; http://www.heraldsun.com.au/; 27 November 2017
  48. ^ triple j's Hottest 100 is moving to a new date and here's why; www.abc.net.au; 27 Nov 2017
  49. ^ Cool reception as JJJ moves its Hottest 100; www.theaustralian.com.au, 28 November 2017
  50. ^ Triple J moves Hottest 100 from Australia Day after protests; www.theguardian.com; 27 November 2017
  51. ^ Aron Paul (23 January 2018). "Australia Day should be January 1 — the symbolism is perfect". Retrieved 9 February 2018.
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