Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to speak on the motion before the chamber—that is, to take note of the answer of the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in question time today. I want to correct a couple of issues that have arisen during this debate so far. Firstly, Minister Coonan is extremely capable in this portfolio. It is unquestionable that the minister is very contemporary, is very up-to-date and has a handle on this portfolio. The criticisms from those on the other side of the chamber are totally irrelevant. It is a bit of padding and a very weak argument. To suggest that this government does not have a right to question on occasions, like you can question any portfolio, the performance of a department or the bias of a department if it comes to a media issue, is wrong. I think it is an important and valid position that we can take.

If it were true that there was some bias concerning favouritism of the Labor Party from a major media outlet, this government has policy direction through a board. While I am talking about the board, let us remember what a board of management does. It does not do editing and it does not run down to the cutting room floor of any particular area. The board of management does not just determine news content. A board of management is fair, looks at the entire company’s operations and the fiscal responsibility of the corporation and appoints a CEO. The CEO runs the day-to-day aspects of the ABC, not the board of management. For Senator Wortley to suggest that the board of management is controlling the day-to-day operations of the ABC is ludicrous. It would not happen. It is impossible. A board of management would simply meet to discuss major policy directions, not day-to-day operations. That is very important.

Coming back to the possibility of the ABC showing a program biased towards the Labor Party, that is something we have the right to question. There are procedures in place and issues in relation to the ABC so that, if we do have a genuine complaint, we can follow it through with the right process. This parliament has guaranteed, through legislation, that the ABC will be independent in all areas—and we accept that—to ensure that what is broadcast is free from political interference. As I have pointed out, we appoint a board of management. That board of management appoints a CEO and does not get involved in the day-to-day operations of the ABC. The government regard, as I am sure all Australians do, this independence to be a critical part of the ABC’s role.

However, as a taxpayer funded national broadcaster, the ABC does have a responsibility to meet audience expectations and community standards. We reflect community standards, especially in the area of news and current affairs. It is certainly a statutory duty of the ABC board to ensure that the gathering and presentation of news and information is accurate and impartial according to the recognised standards of objective journalism. That is an oversight function the board of the ABC would certainly have.

Accordingly, where the government considers that the ABC has not met these high expectations, parliament and the community again have a justified reason to draw to the ABC’s attention, openly and publicly, any criticism in this regard. Also, a key to responding to community expectations is a rigorous and independent complaints handling process—and this is the crux of the matter. The government is continuing to examine options for developing a strengthened independent complaints handling process, not only for the ABC but also for SBS, to supplement the existing internal processes.

The government is also committed to expanding the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s capacity to consider complaints about the ABC and SBS and their services. This will certainly provide a more complete, streamlined and responsive complaints handling process, through which ACMA will be able to consider complaints alleging serious and specific cases of bias, such as that before the chamber today, and any lack of balance, inaccuracy or unfair treatment in respect of ABC and SBS broadcasts or publications. I am sure the Labor Party would want to support a program promoting Labor policies or Labor issues during an election campaign in an election year. But, after drawing it to the ABC’s attention, we have to move forward with confidence that this will not occur and that it will be a balanced program. We trust that this will be the case, but we have the right on every occasion to draw to the attention— (Time expired)