ABC upset. We need more of this., page-5

HAVING extracted $10 million extra from the former Labor government to establish (among other things) a fact-checking unit, the ABC board might want to use it. Writing in the Fairfax press yesterday, ABC board member Fiona Stanley stridently defended the accuracy of the public broadcaster but her piece contained errors and wildly inaccurate claims. If this is considered an appropriate standard at the pinnacle of the organisation, it is little wonder Aunty’s news and current affairs programs so often fall short. In order to buttress her case against efficiencies and spending cuts at the corporation, Professor Stanley claimed it had a budget last year of $825.7 million. Yet, as has often been reported, the ABC receives annual taxpayer funding of more than $1 billion. According to the Department of Communications website the allocation last year was $1.05bn. The figures differ by 21 per cent, or $179.3m. When your case rests on fairness and accuracy such trifles matter. Even more egregiously, Professor Stanley made hysterical claims that the ABC is subjected to “harassment” by The Australian, which she claims is running a “vicious” campaign that is damaging the broadcaster and the nation. She accused this newspaper of demanding the ABC be privatised. She could not be more wrong. We have never called for that. As readers will know, we provide extensive coverage of the national broadcaster, analysing its programs and personnel, triumphs and misdeeds, precisely because we believe it is a crucial institution. We expect it to live up to its charter obligations to provide news and current affairs that is fair, accurate and pluralistic. We often report cases where it fails and now we see a similar failing at board level. Professor Stanley seems to have made her mistake by reading the views of James Paterson of the Institute of Public Affairs on our opinion page. Mr Paterson and other IPA staff often share their views and analysis in appearances on ABC programs, yet we take it Professor Stanley doesn’t contend that the ABC is calling for its own privatisation. We are entitled to expect more accuracy in important public debates. We are entitled to expect better from the ABC.

I don't believe it. An ABC employee telling lies.