The Lies Abbott Tells - Part Ten

THE CLOAKED LIE

Mr Abbott also empathised with Hadley, who complained that he and fellow host Alan Jones "who lean a bit to the right" were "belted over the head" "on a regular basis" by the media regulator, the Australian Communications Media Authority, while the ABC was left to its "own devices" and "self-regulation".

"I can understand your frustration," Mr Abbott told the radio presenter.

"At times there does appear to be a double standard in large swathes of our national life." [ABC News 29 January 2014]

THE TRUTH

The rules governing broadcasting content can be found in legislation, standards, licence conditions and codes of practice. These rules cover the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service Corporation (SBS) as well as commercial broadcasters.

The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 applies to the ABC and SBS as it does to commercial broadcasters.

There are also additional acts which apply to public broadcasters, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 and Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991.

The Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA) has the authority to adjudicate complaints made to it about both public and commercial broadcasters. It exercises that authority.

ACMA has the right to report the ABC or SBS to the Minister if either of these broadcasters do not comply with recommendations resulting from an adjudication. Parliament is then informed of any non-compliance.

ACMA adjudication of complaints about the ABC in 2012-2013 did not find for the complainants in the majority of cases.
Both the ABC & SBS are obliged to appear before Senate estimates committees as part of the regular parliamentary scrutiny of public broadcasting.

ABC current Code of Practice (Revised 2013)