The ABC must be held to account when it doctors footage and photographs or otherwise conducts itself in a manner which compromises its statutory obligation to be impartial and accurate in its reporting.
In the wake of the growing scandal at the BBC involving the doctoring of a speech made by President Trump on 6 January 2021, Sky News presenter Chris Kenny has revealed the ABC also improperly edited this same speech as depicted in a Four Corners documentary.
Like the BBC, the ABC stands accused of deleting key lines in President Trump’s speech which contradicted Four Corners’ narrative alleging the President had implicitly encouraged civil unrest which led to the Capital riots.
Over many years, I have raised ongoing concerns about the ABC’s failure to comply with the ABC Act which requires that “… the gathering and presentation by the Corporation of news and information is accurate and impartial according to the recognised standards of objective journalism.”
Time and time again, the Albanese government has refused to show any interest in serious breaches of the legislation which governs our national broadcaster.
It is astonishing there were no consequences for any employee after the ABC was caught doctoring footage, by editing in extra gunshots, as part of a story which falsely suggested special forces commando, Heston Russell, was a war criminal.
Today, my colleague Senator Jane Hume has revealed a photograph of her holding a newspaper front page was doctored by the ABC’s Insiders program.
That is why I am calling for a Senate inquiry into these and other incidents which fail to meet the highest standards of journalism.
Australians deserve to have full trust and faith in our national broadcaster.