Cosmetic surgery
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Background Briefing, RN: On 12 April Background Briefing aired a documentary about the dangers of cosmetic surgery and the lack of regulation around the industry, which doesn’t require specialist surgical training. Within the story there was reference to the death of a young woman, Lauren James in Melbourne in 2007 who died 3 days after undergoing liposuction, a straight forward cosmetic surgery procedure. The case was referred to in relation to the laws around Australia making it difficult to sue doctors, including cosmetic surgeons. The story didn’t make it clear that the surgeon in this case was a fully qualified (specialist) plastic surgeon. An editor’s note clarifying this was posted on the Background Briefing story page on 15 April and at the relevant point in the transcript, where a hyperlink to the coroner’s findings in the case was also added.
Daily Mail
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Media Watch, ABC: On 23 March, Media Watch criticised the Australian online edition of the Daily Mail for its coverage of Malcolm Fraser's death. It took aim at the prominence given to a story about the night the former prime minister lost his pants in a Memphis Hotel, suggesting more significant aspects of his life had been ignored. The program should have made it clear that the Daily Mail had already covered Mr Fraser's political legacy in an obituary published within minutes of confirmation of his death. Media Watch set the record straight in its 30 March episode.
MyBudget
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7.30: In response to a complaint about a story titled 'The businesses cashing-in on people under financial stress', on March 12 2015 the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found 7.30 to be in breach of standard 5.3 of the ABC Code of Practice. ACMA concluded that MyBudget was not given a fair opportunity to respond to specific claims made by two former customers who appeared in the story. 7.30 acknowledges the ACMA finding.
Hormones in meat
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triple j: During his regular Thursday segment on triple j on 12 February Dr Karl told a listener that there had been "no hormones in any meats in Australia for half a century". This is true for poultry and dairy cattle, but not for beef cattle. Dr Karl apologized and corrected this information on air on Thursday 26 February.
Ian Macdonald
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7pm TV News: On 30 October 2013, ABC 7pm news carried a story on ICAC recommendations for reform of the regulation of coal mining licences in NSW. In the course of that story it was said that former NSW Resources Minister Ian Macdonald made millions from mining deals.
That is not correct and there has been no finding that Mr Macdonald made any personal profit from mining deals. The ABC apologises for the error.
Totten Glacier
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News Online: On 26 January, a story about the melting of the Totten Glacier incorrectly stated that the glacier is twice the size of Victoria. This was incorrect. The glacier drains an area of Antarctica approximately twice the size of Victoria. The reference has been removed.
Plane crash
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News Online: On 27 January, a story about a fatal plane crash off south-east Tasmania during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race story stated that the ATSB’s initial investigation report found that the crash was not caused by mechanical failure. This was not correct, the report stated that initial inspection had not identified any mechanical failures that contributed to the accident. The story has been corrected.
SA council amalgamations
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News Online: On 19 January, a story about council amalgamations in South Australia stated incorrectly that after amalgamations there were 34 local councils in Victoria. The sentence has been deleted.
Hendra vaccination
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ABC Rural: On January 14, in a story about the death of a horse after receiving a Hendra vaccination, the ABC incorrectly reported that vet, Dr Christine Perry, said “thrombocytopenia could have been caused by a number of factors, including even a snake bite or rodenticide consumption, rather than a reaction to the Hendra vaccine.” In fact, Dr Perry said that snake bite and rodenticide consumption and two other causes had been ruled out.
Nicholson Museum
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News24: On January 11, in a piece about allegations of stolen art being purchased by the National Gallery of Australia, the ABC incorrectly showed footage of the interior of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney. The ABC apologises for this error.
Anit-vaccination lobby
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7.30: On January 5, in a story about the impact of the American anit-vaccination lobby and outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease in the United States, the ABC interviewed James Maskell but did not mention he is an anti-vaccine campaigner.
Crime and Corruption Commission
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612 ABC Brisbane Mornings: On October 10, in an interview with Dr Bruce Flegg MP after he was cleared of allegations investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). The ABC failed to clarify the powers of the CCC and its predecessor the Crime and Misconduct Commission.
Sheikh Omar El Banna
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7.30: On May 30, we featured a story on Australian men travelling to Syria to fight with rebel forces in that country’s civil war. During that story we referred to a number of Australian Muslim clerics, including Sheikh Omar El Banna. We wish to clarify that it was not our intention to imply that Sheikh El Banna advocated or endorsed Australians travelling to Syria to fight and we apologise if anyone understood the story to suggest otherwise.
Darryl Pearce
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The World Today: On December 16, the ABC incorrectly identified the magistrate that gave Man Haron Monis bail for being an accessory to murder as Darryl Pearce. It was, in fact, magistrate William Pierce. We wish to apologise to Darryl Pearce for any hurt or embarrassment caused.
Regeneus injections
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7.30: On October 6, in a story about stem cell treatments, the ABC was advised by the Canterbury Bulldogs that Trent Hodkinson received treatment from Regeneus, however Regeneus say he did not. The ABC also incorrectly listed the date on a Regeneus media release as last year, when it was in August this year.
Sri Paramahansa Swami Satyananda
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News24: On 2 December, the ABC ran footage in conjunction with a story of an Royal Commission Inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse at the Satyananda Ashram. At one point vision of Sri Paramahansa Swami Satyananda was inadvertently inserted and the ABC apologises for the error.
GP charges
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7pm TV News: On December 10, in a story about proposed changes to the Medicare rebate paid to doctors, the ABC reported that some Australians would be exempt from any GP charges “but everyone else will be slugged an extra $5 each time they visit the GP”. In fact, the option of the charge is left at the discretion of GPs, and not mandated by the Government.
Capricorn Pastoral
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ABC Rural: On 8 December, in a review of the operation of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) since its introduction, the ABC indicated that nine Australian live export companies had breached ESCAS regulations. While Capricorn Pastoral did make improvements to animal welfare in an overseas market, no complaint was upheld against it by the Federal Government.
David Langsam
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Victoria 7pm TV News: On 18 November, in a story about calls in Victoria to ban the burqa, the ABC featured some vox pops which included comments made by a member of the public, David Langsam. As they appeared in the story, the comments misleadingly gave the impression that Mr Langsam supported the proposal. In actual fact, Mr Langsam had expressed opposition to a ban. The ABC apologises.
Western Front
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News24 and News Online: On November 19, when reporting on the visit of the French President to the Australian War Memorial, the ABC incorrectly reported that 10,000 diggers were killed on the Western Front. In fact, over 40,000 diggers were killed.
Bishop of Newcastle
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News Online: On 27 October, in a story about child sexual abuse allegations the ABC reported that Newcastle Anglican bishop, Roger Herft, knew about a priest’s child abuse convictions, but did not take action. The ABC wishes to clarify that Mr Herft was told that the matter was proceeding and he believed the responsible Diocese was taking action and that he did not personally have the power to act.
MH17 culpability
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7.30: On October 13, when reporting on Mr Abbott’s intention to ‘shirtfront’ Vladimir Putin over the Malaysian flight MH17 disaster, the ABC reported the MH17 was shot down by “pro-Russian militia” and “Russian-backed rebels”. There remains no official conclusion on the responsibility of the attack.
Coconut oil
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Catalyst, ABC: In the 13 November 2014 episode about the low carb diet, interviewee Pete Evans described coconut oil as a source of monounsaturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is predominantly saturated fat; it contains only a small amount of monounsaturated fat. The online version of the episode has been amended and a note has been added to the episode transcript.
Sharia law
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News Online: On 23 September, the ABC published an explainer article pointing out some facts about Sharia law. Although the article summarised characteristics of Sharia, it did not reference those aspects that some find objectionable. The article has been deleted.
Sand mining
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AM: On October 22, in a story about a High Court challenge to extended sand mining operations on North Stradbroke Island, the ABC reported that the legislation extended mining until 2035. To clarify, the legislation allows holders of certain sand mining leases to apply to extend their leases until 2035, but such application cannot be made until the year before their leases expire.
