The ABC is a law unto itself

A scandal involving the BBC‘s news and current affairs coverage, including reporting on the Hamas–Israel war, prompted similar analysis of the ABC.

The ABC‘s response was effectively: “Biased? Us?”

Every organisation has a political culture. But is there merit in the accusation of “systemic” or “institutional” ABC bias?

Those of us watching, listening to and reading ABC content, know Israel is portrayed as a heartless aggressor, and Palestinians are perpetual victims with no agency. What’s more, this is effectively ABC policy – and this is not conjecture.

In 2019, AIJAC lodged a formal complaint against two ABC reports on the COVID vaccine rollout in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. It was clear that, unlike its media peers, the ABC felt it had no duty to include critical context.