Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am not sure about that, Senator Campbell. Perhaps you ought to ask Mr Scott that at the next estimates hearings. I believe there will be some significant changes to editorial policies. The ABC will demonstrate impartiality at platform levels, and it is important that it will be done across ABC Television, the radio network and ABC Online for opinion, topical and factual content. This will mean that the ABC will provide its audience with a range of different perspectives on the subject under consideration.

There have been many instances when I have written to the managing director pointing out instances of bias and where broadcasters have clearly taken a partisan opinion on important issues and categorically failed to give the alternate opinion. I think it is time that the ABC’s editorial policies were revised so that the ABC goes back to what it is intended to be, and that is a public broadcaster for the benefit of all Australians that is required to deliver services in a balanced and unbiased manner.

I understand there will also be a new content category called ‘opinion’, meaning content presented from a particular point of view about a particular matter of public contention. It really is about time that the editorial policies were revised so that the ABC does not become a propagandist. How many times have we seen the ABC, particularly in the last year— (Time expired)