Tonightly with Tom Ballard: The ABC, through its show Tonightly with Tom Ballard, broadcast a story on 23 April 2018 concerning the Camp Gallipoli Foundation and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Christopher Fox.
The ABC wishes to clarify that, although the objects of the Camp Gallipoli Foundation included "to use the surplus from the Camp Gallipoli commemorative events to support RSL branches and Legacy Clubs", most of its other objects did not concern fundraising.
Whilst the Camp Gallipoli Foundation did not make a distribution of funds to the RSL and/or Legacy Clubs in the years 2015 and 2016, Mr Fox has told the ABC that the Camp Gallipoli Foundation did deliver on its other objectives, namely:
a) to ensure the preservation of the memory and honour of those who suffered and died in all theatres of war commencing from the Gallipoli landing in the First World War, through the Camp Gallipoli commemorative events;
b) to bring together communities from varying backgrounds, cultures, and locations to celebrate the ANZAC spirit;
c) to encourage families and school communities to come together to honour and ensure the ANZAC spirit lives on; and
d) to educate and reinforce the ANZAC spirit to our youth.
The ABC accepts that it did not have a proper basis to suggest that Mr Fox acted improperly in his role as CEO of the Camp Gallipoli Foundation and regrets and unreservedly withdraws the statement made by Mr Ballard that the Camp Gallipoli concept was a poorly conceived plan that ballooned into a costly and devastating failure thanks to the greed and hubris of those in command.
The ABC unreservedly apologises to Mr Fox for the embarrassment and distress caused to him by reason of the broadcast.