Prime Minister Scott Morrison is backing a Senate inquiry into how the ABC deals with complaints, stating that the public broadcaster is a government agency that is not above the scrutiny of the Senate.

The prompting of an inquiry into the broadcaster’s processes and those of SBS came about after Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg raised extensive grievances that the ABC isn’t taking complaints seriously.  

“It’s a government agency. Yes, they have their independence and no one’s questioning that,” the Prime Minister told reporters on Monday. 

“But they’re not above the scrutiny for how they conduct themselves using taxpayers’ money.” 

Meanwhile, ABC Chair Ita Buttrose described the organisation’s relationship with the government as strained. 

“It’s a fact that the ABC causes all governments, at some time or another, to complain about one of our stories or something that we’ve done,” she told ABC radio. 

“We do look at powerful people, we do investigate situations and sometimes there are situations where people wish we wouldn’t go.” 

Ms Buttrose wanted the Senate inquiry scrapped, or at least put on hold until an ABC-commissioned independent review of its complaints process was completed. 

“It would be much better if the government and the national broadcaster had a better relationship,” she said. 

“We are not the enemy. We’re easily accessible. I’ve said to politicians many times, I’m approachable, please pick up the phone.” 

Ms Buttrose described Senator Bragg’s announcement as “an act of political interference designed to intimidate”. 

Meanwhile, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young stated that she would move to stop the “witch hunt” and abuse of proper process when parliament returns next week. 

“It shouldn’t be at the dictation of any government or any politician as to what the ABC does or doesn’t report on,” she said. 

Senator Bragg said the committee responsible for communications oversight would take submissions and hold hearings in the coming months ahead of its report due in February. 

The media union lashed at the inquiry, stating that it was another example of the government’s attempt to interfere with the editorial independence of both national broadcasters. 

“The ABC’s complaints handling processes are extremely rigorous and go far beyond those available at other media outlets,” Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance chief executive Paul Murphy said. 

Labor Senator Tim Ayres also criticised the obsession some government backbenchers had with the ABC. 

“But take a step back: the ABC is so important to Australia. It is so important, in particular, to country Australia,” he told 2NZ Inverell radio. 

“People ought to respect the independence of the ABC and not try to interfere politically.” 

With AAP

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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