The ABC is “hostile territory” for conservative politicians, says Peter Costello in his latest op-ed. “With the ABC,” Costello wrote this week for Fairfax, “the line of questioning is always predictable. It always comes from the Labor/Green perspective.”
The former Treasurer says he decided to unveil his insights into institutional bias at the ABC because, “I am not now at the mercy of the media so I can afford to say what everyone on the conservative side of politics knows.”
But this is no rhetorical flourish — Costello presents a catalogue of evidence to support his claims of ABC bias:
- The flagship national current affairs programs AM, PM, and The 7.30 Report have “a consistent editorial perspective”.
- The Labor Party only gets “a hard time” on the ABC if it is “perceived to be betraying ‘true Labor principles’ or being too ‘pro-business’ or being insensitive to the environment”.
- Several senior Labor polticians like former WA Premier Alan Carpenter and former NT Chief Minister Clare Martin used to work at the ABC.
- The 7.30 Report “is hosted by “former Labor staffer” Kerry O’Brien”.
- Phillip Adams — ”the emblematic figurehead of the pro-Labor left intelligentsia” — broadcasts on Radio National “five nights a week”.
Costello’s insinuations, which he presents as facts, are an outrageous attack on the ABC’s most senior journalists and managers and its board. If his catalogue of bias is right, many of the ABC’s leading journalists and managers should be sacked because, according to Costello and “everyone on the conservative side of politics”, they are guilty of systemic unprofessionalism, breaching the ABC’s Editorial Policies and Code of Practice, and essentially hijacking the national broadcaster’s airwaves to present a structurally biased coverage of politics.
Of course, attacking ABC Leftism is a long-established practice by conservative politicians. But to suggest that the ABC’s flagship daily current affairs programs have a “consistent” editorial bias is not about politics, it is an attack on the very heart of the ABC’s editorial professionalism.
If Costello can prove he is right, the journalists and managers responsible for these programs should be sacked and ABC current affairs should be overhauled. If his allegations can’t be substantiated he should be sued for libel.
What, you don’t agree with me? Bias!!!
I did not read the article but I did hear Phillip Adams rebuttal on LNL yesterday. It was quite amusing to hear PA list the programs and broadcasters the ABC have commissioned to “balance” the perceived bias. Of course Peter Costello did not acknowledge any of these in his op ed. Did he mention the the number of ABC staffers etc who have gone on to work for the Liberals or coalition Govt? Did he mention the army of shock jocks and column writers who slavishly support the conservative line unquestioned?
It appears the conservative side of politics are very sensitive to any who do not join a cheer squad for them. The reaction most often is to then attack the organisation rather than answer the issues raised.
Goodness me, is Peter and the conservative view that we should only Australian versions of Fox news? I still believe the best source of balanced reporting with some depth is the ABC.
Ah, the perennial argument led by conservatives.
You know, in the bigger scheme of things, I think they may have a point in as much as radio and TV talk programs usually attract presenters and producers with ideas, and who are fired with zeal for change of one sort or another and this makes for interesting and entertaining listening/viewing.
If we look at various dictionary definitions of characteristics of the term conservative: “opposed to liberal reforms; resistant to change; conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class; unimaginatively conventional” they don’t bode well for those who would put themselves forward as entertainers of mass media audiences.
With digital radio and TV technology now offering multiple channels, perhaps the ABC should have three separate networks on each medium labelled: Left, Right and Don’t Care.
Meh who cares, its the ABC , the very definition of irrelevent.
madeinaustralia: the andrew bolt of crikey respondents. always provocative.
i bet you wish we had a more active news channel here, perhaps something like fox news ala glenn beck etc etc