R THE ABC Volume 66 I 1

Aunty out of control The ABC is a billion dollar culture war high ground, writes James Paterson. It’s time it was privatised.

British newspaper The Guardian to April, ABC managing director Mark JAMES PATERSON Director of Development and report allegations based on leaks by Scott was forced to acknowledge the Communications at the Edward Snowden, the former US NSA appalling taste of the Chaser skit and Institute of Public Affairs employee, that Australia spied on the relented, granting the apology Kenny Indonesian government. had been seeking. here’s only one way to fix Second, the ABC chose to Third, the ABC chose to air thinly- the ABC, and that is by broadcast a distasteful photoshopped sourced allegations that Australian privatising it. Everything else image of ABC critic and journalist Navy personnel had deliberately is window dressing. at The Australian, Chris Kenny, burned asylum seekers’ hands in a TIf the ABC wants to be reformed, appearing to have sex with a dog. confrontation at sea. Even the ABC’s they are doing everything in their The attack came in response to own Media Watch, normally focused power to make it happen. Kenny’s persistent criticism of the on the evils of talk back radio and Since the election of the Abbott ABC. Instead of simply apologising, commercial current affairs shows, government, it is almost as if the ABC as Kenny requested, the ABC was forced to admit the reporting was has gone out of its way to provoke initially refused and instead spent sloppy and questionable. the government into action. First, the taxpayers’ money defending costly At the very least, this reporting ABC partnered with the left-wing defamation proceedings. Finally, in was hardly consistent with its contract

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to run the Australia Network, which RESOURCES MINISTER Although its defenders are loath the ABC was awarded in perpetuity in MARTIN FERGUSON to admit it, it’s untenable to argue that controversial circumstances in 2011 > TOOK THE UNUSUAL the ABC is rigorously fair, balanced by then communications minister STEP OF PUBLICLY and evenhanded. While the ABC is Stephen Conroy. The ABC had been LAMBASTING ABC rarely crudely biased in a partisan competing against Sky News in a MANAGING DIRECTOR sense, it is clear that it approaches tender process to run the network, MARK SCOTT FOR news from a left of centre perspective. which an independent panel had MAKING WHAT HE It’s no coincidence that so many twice found had entered a superior REGARDED AS AN conservatives and liberals are so often bid. Unhappy with the outcome, the INAPPROPRIATE incensed by the broadcaster, and that Gillard government overruled the PHONE CALL TO LOBBY the left rallies unanimously to defend process and gave the $223 million FOR THE CONTRACT it whenever it comes under criticism. contract to the ABC. The ABC has happily employed The ABC’s conduct during the many journalists who have tender process was called in to hardly helps Australia’s image among transparent political allegiances question even by Gillard government our neighbours. to the left—for example, Barrie ministers. Resources minister Martin It’s important to recognise Cassidy, a former staffer to Bob Ferguson took the unusual step of that this situation would barely be Hawke, Phillip Adams, a life-long publicly lambasting ABC managing improved if a private operator like ALP member, David Marr, who director Mark Scott for making what Sky News was operating the Australia once said being left-wing was a he regarded as an inappropriate Network. They too would become prerequisite to being a journalist, phone call to lobby for the contract. conflicted between their obligation and Fran Kelly, a self-described In 2010, the ABC took the unusual to report the news whilst at the same ‘activist’. There are countless other step of paying think tank the Lowy time accepting money from the ABC presenters and personalities Institute to produce a report on the government to sell Australia to Asia. whose allegiances are less overt, Australia Network. The report lauded It’s been publicly speculated that but whose views are nonetheless the network, and argued that it was the Abbott government plans to unmistakeable, like Melbourne ABC underfunded. The tender process scrap the Australia Network. If they Radio host Jon Faine, former Sydney was so botched that Sky News was proceed, it will be among the easiest radio host Deborah Cameron, and awarded an undisclosed amount of cuts made in the May budget. It’s every member of the Chaser Team compensation. impossible to quantify the alleged (almost all of whom seem to have The purpose of the Australia benefits of the network, and as even found a well-remunerated sinecure Network, actually a project of the Malcolm Turnbull—an avowed fan somewhere in the ABC since their Department of Foreign Affairs and of the ABC—has admitted, in the show ended). Trade, is to be a part of Australia’s 21st Century there are much more Against this monolithic world foreign policy tool kit. A ‘soft effective ways of promoting Australia’s view, the ABC employs only one diplomacy’ measure, it broadcasts interests abroad than with a television identifiable conservative or liberal, a range of Australian news, current network. former Howard government affairs and drama to our immediate This will certainly be a blow to the minister Amanda Vanstone, the host region, under the theory that this ABC. It might even be accompanied of the once a week, self-consciously promotes Australia’s interests. by a freeze in the ABC’s funding, named Counterpoint on ABC Radio The existence of the Australia or an across the board reduction in National. Network places the ABC in a funding, as part of a government- But the bias of the ABC is not just conflicted position. Is it a news wide drive to reduce spending and the evident in its choice of personnel. The organisation dedicated to the pursuit federal budget deficit. way it presents news stories, whom it of truth? Or is it an arm of the But what exactly does the selects to interview in them and what Australian government designed to government imagine that it chooses not to cover can be equally promote our national interest abroad? would change? revealing. It’s hard to be both. Broadcasting It certainly won’t make any Unremarkably, ABC news stories poorly supported accusations of difference to the problems of bias that tend to reflect the world view of barbarity on the part of Australia’s have plagued the public broadcaster its staff. This phenomenon is not navy into the Asia Pacific region for decades. isolated to public broadcasters, but it

MAY 2014 | IPA Review 11 R THE ABC Volume 66 I 1

ONLY WHOLESALE REFORM OF THE ABC WILL PRODUCE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. THE LESSON FROM THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT’S INABILITY TO REFORM THE ABC IS THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED FROM THE BOARD DOWN.

CONTINUED voting preference of 46.5 per cent is a particular problem for them. for the ALP, 26.7 per cent for the Staff at Fairfax or News Coalition and 19.8 per cent for the Corporation are free to share a similar Greens. outlook of the world, and allow it to Of course, this would matter less affect their journalism, because no if it didn’t affect the way that the ABC one is forced to read them or fund covers news. But it clearly does. In a them. If consumers are unhappy with powerful example cited by Spectator their editorial line, there are plenty Australia Editor Tom Switzer, in the of other outlets for their eyeballs and week former US President Ronald their wallets. But a taxpayer funded Reagan died in June 2004, the ABC’s broadcaster must represent all points Lateline did not run a single story of view, and eschew bias. Consumers on the life or presidency of one of (and taxpayers) can certainly tune the 20th century’s most significant out, but they are still forced to fund figures. This is the same program the broadcaster that doesn’t represent that regularly runs stories marking or even respect their world view. the anniversaries of the death of $1.25 billion The only major survey of ABC John F. Kennedy, and who in August ABC budget staff political views, conducted by 2012 not only covered the death of a University of Sunshine Coast left wing intellectual Gore Vidal in appropriations, academic and released in May 2013, much detail, but arranged a live-cross 2012-13 found that 41.2 per cent said they to then foreign minister Bob Carr vote Green, 32.4 per cent Labor and from Abu Dhabi to rhapsodise Gore’s just 14.7 per cent for the Coalition— legacy. starkly out of step with the broader In a more recent example, when population, and much more tilted to the ABC’s 7.30 covered the Abbott the left than both Fairfax and News government’s decision to refuse to bail Limited. Defenders of the ABC have out SPC Ardmona, they interviewed said these figures can’t be relied upon, no less than three people in favour of given they were based on only a small a taxpayer subsidy, but not a single sample of journalists. But even if we opponent. For ‘balance’ they simply accept that this research exaggerates screened a few sentences of file the extent of ABC employees’ left wing footage from government ministers tendencies, it is untenable to suggest defending the decision. that the ABC is even close to reflecting Dozens of other examples of the population as a whole. Even News ABC bias are well documented Corporation, derided by many for a by the Sydney Institute’s Gerard supposed conservative bias, recorded Henderson, such as the broadcaster’s

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ABC staff political views

ALP L/NP GRN 32.4% 14.7% 41.2%

Source: Folker Hanusch, ‘Whose views skew the news? Media chiefs ready to vote out Labor, while reporters lean left’, The Conversation, 20 May 2013 disproportionate focus on issues centre, with only 12.9 per cent self- once been regarded as extreme, it is like gay marriage, asylum seekers identifying as centre right. Journalists now much less controversial after two and climate change. Former ABC who consciously choose to work for decades of advertising. chairman Maurice Newman has a public broadcaster as opposed to a A proper review of the ABC’s blasted the broadcaster for its commercial media outlet would only size and role is long overdue, even if groupthink on climate change. exacerbate that tendency. The idea ABC employees hysterically resist it. While there’s no doubt that ABC that such a skewed and staff-centric When former Sunday Age editor Gay management deserves much of the organisation could ever deliver news Alcorn gently suggested in a recent blame for this situation, we should and current affairs in an impartial column that the ABC’s move into not be at all surprised that the ABC is way is laughable. online journalism was hastening the home to a left of centre world view. By That’s why only wholesale reform demise of Fairfax, ABC Breakfast its very nature as a taxpayer funded of the ABC will produce meaningful TV’s Virginia Trioli slammed Alcorn broadcaster, it is insulated from its change. A small budget cut will result on Twitter and accused her of audience. Unlike commercial media in no cultural change, and the lesson writing ‘rubbish’. But as private media outlets, who must strive to please from the Howard government’s operators wrestle with profitability their consumers or die, the ABC faces inability to reform the ABC is that it and shrink in size, the ABC’s ever- no penalty for failing to cater to their cannot be fixed from the board down. growing budgets will make it easily viewers. The absence of this market Privatisation is the only remedy the most powerful player in the pressure means that the driving force likely to solve the persistent issues Australian media. And why should behind editorial decisions are the with the ABC, even if it is regarded the ABC be allowed such reach when staff. Former ABC board member by many in the political class as a private competitor of the same size Janet Albrechtsen has written about unthinkable. Even if we concede would violate cross-media ownership how little influence the board has the political obstacles to this radical laws? on the output of the ABC, and Chris option are too great, there are some It’s deeply troubling that a Kenny, who was once employed at steps towards this goal that could be democracy like Australia has allowed the ABC, has dubbed it a ‘staff-run more politically palatable. a state-broadcaster to become so collective’. Corporatisation, including powerful, and so obviously biased. As the University of Southern allowing advertising as has been If the Abbott government is serious Queensland research demonstrates, done at SBS, is a reasonable first about tackling this issue, it will need journalists already lean to the left—51 step towards privatisation. Whilst to do much more than trim the per cent describe themselves as left of privatisation of the SBS may have ABC’s budget. R

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