Does increasing support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party, evident in the opinion polls, present long-term problems for the ABC? Obviously, it’s too early to say. But there is reason for uncritical supporters of the taxpayer-funded public broadcaster to be concerned.
In the past, some opponents of the lack of viewpoint diversity on the ABC have wondered why Coalition governments, led by Malcolm Fraser, John Howard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, have not been able to encourage the ABC board to break the left’s domination of what is a conservative-free zone.
Sure, in various ways, Fraser, Howard, Abbott and Morrison tried. Not so Turnbull, who has been almost an uncritical ABC supporter. Especially nowadays when he has ready access to ABC studios to attack the Liberal Party in the capacity of one of its former leaders. ABC journalists just love this. And they rarely if ever ask him about losing 14 seats to Labor in the 2016 election or the blowout in costs to his fave Snowy Hydro 2.0 project.
As to the others, there was never the determination to do so. Traditionally, there has been strong support for the ABC from Nationals parliamentarians and regional and rural Liberal Party MPs. The ABC is more politically balanced in rural and regional areas. Moreover, Coalition MPs outside the major cities can get ready access to the ABC in their electorates.
Hanson is of a different stock. She appears to detest the ABC in the Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney axis and could act against it. This, after all, is where the ABC most readily demonstrates its support for left-wing causes.
A One Nation government could reduce funding for that part of the ABC public broadcaster where its most controversial “stars” are based. Namely, Linton Besser, Melissa Clarke, Raf Epstein, Sarah Ferguson, Patricia Karvelas, Fran Kelly, John Lyons, Hamish Macdonald, David Marr, Louise Milligan, Sally Sara, David Speers and Laura Tingle.
Needless to say, a government cannot, and should not, run a public broadcaster. Nor can a board. That’s the role of the ABC’s managing director and editor-in-chief (currently Hugh Marks). The role of the board – under its chairman (currently Kim Williams) – is to ensure that the functions of the corporation are performed effectively with the maximum benefit to the people of Australia.
It is sometimes said that ABC journalists must abide by the corporation’s charter. That’s a somewhat benign document. What’s important is section eight of the Australian Broadcasting Act 1983. It sets out the duties of the board including ensuring “that the gathering and presentation” by the ABC “of news and information is accurate and impartial according to the recognised standards of objective journalism”.
The federal government appoints the ABC board, including the ABC chair, except for the staff-elected board member (currently Tingle). And the board appoints the managing director. A One Nation government could appoint as many board members as it would be legally entitled to.
I am not advocating a vote for One Nation. However, I am saying that such an administration could affect the ABC by financial cuts and the like.
Followers of the ABC are getting a clearer view of the organisation under new management. It appears that Williams was influential in the appointment of Marks. Recent public appearances by the pair suggest that the ABC is likely to remain a conservative-free zone under their watch.
On May 24, on a visit to Tasmania, Williams appeared on the Poll Position podcast where he was interviewed by Brad Stansfield and Alex Johnston. The following exchange took place. Williams: “The ABC is not an especially left-wing or right-wing organisation and, in fact, the majority of ABC journalists – I would defy anyone to know how they vote.” Stansfield: “Oh, I reckon I could guess.”
Quite so. Clearly, Williams is in denial. ABC management cannot name one conservative among the television, radio or online outlets who are presenters, producers or editors. Little wonder that Stansfield queried Williams. The public broadcaster is replete with apparent Greens and teal supporters in prominent positions.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonathon Duniam claims the ABC has made a “terrible error of Judgement” in selecting Grace Tame for a new podcast.
Interviewed on Radio National Breakfast on June 10, Marks was asked about the ABC’s decision to appoint Grace Tame, who presents as a functioning adult, to present a four-part podcast on autism. In a soft and content-light interview, Marks declared, with respect to Tame, that “everybody can relate to what she really believes in”.
Really? Does “everybody” believe in Tame’s comment, as told to Hamish Macdonald on ABC Radio Sydney on March 16, that the evidence that Hamas murdered Israeli women and children and raped women was mere “propaganda”?
Also, under questioning from Liberal Party senator Sarah Henderson in Senate estimates on May 28, Marks refused to engage with the fact that Simon Robinson (the ABC’s soon to be head of news) had reposted a lengthy article titled “The Shoah after Gaza” by Pankaj Mishra. This was profoundly hostile to Israel. There is no evidence that Robinson has reposted an article supportive of contemporary Israel.
It’s early days. However, Williams and Marks do not seem to be conscious of the validity of the critique that the ABC is replete with left-of-centre individuals who regard themselves as “progressives”. Until they and other board members cease being in denial on this issue, hostility towards the ABC within sections of Australia is likely to remain.
Sky News Media Watch Dog Columnist Gerard Henderson says ABC Media Watch host Linton Besser has conceded Pauline Hanson must be taken seriously after One Nation’s surge in the polls.
It may be that some ABC journalists are more alert to a possibility of a future government that wants the ABC Act implemented by management. Last Monday on Media Watch, Besser dropped his previous sneering of Hanson.
Besser believes that One Nation’s evident increasing support has come despite shunning sections of the media. This is true in part. But other sections of the media have effectively “cancelled” Hanson in recent times.
Meanwhile, Hanson appears frequently on Sky News and One Nation has run a very effective social media campaign. Besser and the like should not be surprised that One Nation’s popularity increased markedly after the Bondi Beach massacre.
It will be interesting to see what case the ABC will put about its Middle East coverage when it and other outlets appear before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in the coming weeks.