Content of fertilisers
Posted | Updated
Gardening Australia, ABC: On 30 August, the presenter of a story about caring for citrus trees said that selenium and iodine can be found in seaweed emulsion but not other fertilisers.
Melbourne sentencing
Posted
News Online: On October 16, in a story about the sentencing of Ivan D’Angelo for the shooting of an intruder, the ABC incorrectly reported that Mr D’Angelo “lined up” Wade Vandenberg with his gun and pulled the trigger. The finding was that the gun discharged by accident.
NT cattle stations
Posted
News Online: On August 17, in an article about Northern Territory cattle stations, the ABC reported that family owners were selling to businesses as fallout from the 2011 live export ban. The piece has been edited to include the fact that the property was on sale before the ban and there were other factors were at play.
Apology to Mr Brett Cross
Posted
On 2 October 2013, the ABC published a story from the RN Breakfast program with a photograph obtained from a third party which depicted Mr Brett Cross. In doing so, the ABC relied upon the third party’s incorrect label of the photograph. The ABC understands that Mr Cross is not a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang and does not associate with members of outlaw motorcycle gangs. The ABC regrets the error and apologises to Mr Cross for any harm caused to him.
Syrian video
Posted
News Online: On October 12, in an article about a video message in which a man claims to be an Australian fighting with rebels in Syria, the ABC suggested Channel 7 had not verified the footage. In fact, the ABC had not independently verified the footage.
Chemical weapons
Posted
Lateline: On September 1, during an interview with former US ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, the interviewer stated “a year ago, when Bashar al Assad crossed President Obama's Red Line by using chemical weapons". The ABC understands there remains no official conclusion on the responsibility of the chemical weapons attack.
Ipswich City Council
Posted
7pm TV News, Queensland: On 24 September 2014, the ABC reported on a court battle between Ipswich City Council and Springfield Land Corporation. The story included vision of an apiary that is not owned and operated by the corporation and is not the subject of legal action.
Qantas analysis
Posted
7pm TV News and News24: On August 28 and 29, in a report about Qantas, the ABC incorrectly stated that Qantas was competing to maintain a 70 per cent market share, when that share is closer to 62 to 65 per cent. The ABC also reported the airline “lost $194 million from grounding its fleet in 2011”, however the industrial dispute cost the airline $194 million.
Maurice Newman
Posted
Q&A, ABC: On 18 August, Tony Jones said that Maurice Newman had claimed the world is actually cooling. Mr Newman has contacted the ABC to point out that in his recent public statements he did not claim the world is cooling, but only that this is a possibility that scientists and policy makers should consider more seriously.
Cambodian orphanage
Posted
Head First, ABC: In the episode broadcast on 6 August, Head First looked at the problem of orphanage tourism in Cambodia. One of the orphanages visited by presenter Sabour Bradley sold art made by the children they cared for. It was not the intention of the ABC to suggest that the art being sold was not in fact made by the children or that money made from it was not used for their benefit.
UN Security Council
Posted
Q&A, ABC: On 28 July, Tony Jones said that Australia is on the UN Security Council for the first time in its history.
Tim Buckley
Posted
AM and News24 : On 29 July, when reporting on the proposed Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, the ABC included comments from Tim Buckley from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, without pointing out that he is also the manager of a clean energy fund.
Tarkine National Coalition
Posted
News Online: On June 6 the ABC published a story on a challenge to mining in the Tarkine region. Since this article was first published, the ABC has been contacted by the Tarkine National Coalition, who say that they support responsible mining projects in the North-West of Tasmania and are actively involved in Government projects aimed at boosting tourism and economic growth.
Robyn Parker MP
Posted
News Online: On August 14, when paraphrasing the NSW ICAC testimony of Newcastle Lord Mayor Jeff McCloy, the ABC suggested Mr McCloy could not remember whether he had contributed to Liberal member for Maitland, Robyn Parker’s campaign. Mr McCloy actually stated that his staff had searched the records and found no evidence of any contribution.
Asbestos allegations
Posted
AM and PM: On 1 and 2 August the ABC reported that Bowsers Asphalt Pty Ltd of Rozelle, had been using old-style lose asbestos insulation in Sydney for the past 13 years. The current owners of the business bought the Bowsers names in 2002 and they assert they have only been involved in fire protection and have not used asbestos for any purpose.
Apology to Mr Paul O’Brien
Posted | Updated
Lateline: On August 5, in a story about the extraction of rare earths in North Korea, the ABC published an image of Mr Paul O’Brien. Mr O’Brien has no connection with the subject matter of the report and apologises to Mr O’Brien for any hurt or harm caused.
Wagner and Nazism
Posted | Updated
Compass, ABC1: In an episode of The Moral Compass on 13 July 2014, guest panellist Dr Leslie Cannold mistakenly described composer Richard Wagner as a Nazi sympathiser.
Succession planning story Feature
Posted | Updated
ABC Rural On 25th July, 2014, some identifying characteristics and comments were removed from an article about succession planning on farming properties.
Patty Mills Story
Posted | Updated
666 ABC Drive: In a story broadcast on 18 June 2014, ABC Drive in Canberra included a comment about Australian history which was inaccurate.
Hamas rockets
Posted
AM: On 11 and 14 July, in stories about conflict between Israel and Hamas, the presenter’s introduction referred to Hamas rockets being aimed at ‘settlements’. This was incorrect given the areas targeted included the central and southern districts of Israel.
Catholic Church sexual abuse
Posted
ABC News 24: On Tuesday July 8, in a live interview with Mr Francis Sullivan of the Catholic Church Truth Justice and Healing, the presenter mistakenly named an ABC reporter as victim of the abuse instead of the actual victim, Ms Jennifer Herrick. Further, the question implied the case was “child sexual abuse” when the victim was actually a young adult.
Yothu Yindi Foundation
Posted
7PM ABC 1 News, NT: On July 7, in a story about NAIDOC week, the ABC reported that “the Yothu Yindi foundation invited the Prime Minister to the Yolngu community but say they won't comment at this stage as to whether that offer still stands”. This was incorrect. The Yothu Yindi foundation had not been asked directly about the offer for the Prime Minister to visit.
Financial advice reforms
Posted | Updated
ABC Fact Check: On June 2, the ABC published a fact check about a claim by opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen about the Government’s proposed changes to financial advice laws. The headline has been changed to more precisely reflect the content of the fact check.
Alastair Nicholson
Posted
AM: On June 21, in a story about the appointment of Tim Carmody as Queensland Chief Justice, the ABC featured comments by Alastair Nicholson, referring to him as “former Queensland Chief Justice”. Alastair Nicholson is the former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia.
Apology to Cardinal George Pell
Posted | Updated
Local Radio, Canberra. On 10 June, 2014 666 ABC Canberra Breakfast presenter Philip Clark made comments in relation to Cardinal George Pell in an interview with Mr Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council.
On 18th June, Philip Clark read the following apology on air:
"On 10 June 2014 I made comments during this program which were critical of Cardinal George Pell and his role in the handling of child sexual abuse claims by the Catholic Church and also his subsequent appointment to a role in the Vatican. My comments about these matters were inaccurate and defamatory and I wish to retract them. The ABC and I apologise to Cardinal Pell for the harm caused to him."
