braggs

There are rumours that… (it seems to be real rumours) that  Andrew Bragg, a Federal NSW Liberal MP, wants to take another another shot at the ABC…

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg has called for a permanent independent ombudsman for the national broadcaster to ensure it “remains unbiased”.

Mr Bragg, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications Committee, said the ABC’s internal complaints processes required “extra scrutiny”.

“The ABC gets to mark its own homework and as an organisation paid for by the taxpayer, I believe there should be extra scrutiny,” Mr Bragg told SkyNews.com.au.

The public broadcaster recently launched an external investigation into the complaints system but Mr Bragg said the entire process should be completely independent of the ABC.

“It’s worth exploring the idea of an independent ombudsmen, like we have seen at SBS,” he said.

Read more:

https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/liberal-senator-andrew-bragg-calls-for-independent-ombudsman-into-abcs-internal-complaints-processes/news-story/894f040e84a4430c4ee6d2af418a980d

Apparently the same crap has appeared in The (Murdoch) Australian... in a more brutal manner...

It is interesting to note that Andrew Bragg got shot down by the IPA, for demanding “an Aboriginal voice” in the Australian Parliament. The IPA objected under the blanket statement that “we’re all equal” in this country… Yes we know. Some pigs are more equal than others… But good on Bragg for raising the issue in his maiden speech… pity about his misunderstanding of the role and charter of the ABC — which is for all to see UNBIASED or is slightly leaning to the right, unlike the Murdoch media which is right of ultra-right wing...

Meanwhile for Paul Fletcher, the Minister for Communications, as long as the ABC exist, it seems there will be more inquiries into the ABC than breakfast for you in the mornings… 

And here is why: THE LIBS, THE IPA (funded in a great part by Gina Rinehart) and the MURDOCH media HATE THE ABC… Now something that even some of the ABC people thought went over the top:

GetUp is getting up Murdoch press and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison with their new film Murdoch & Morrison v. The ABC that details how they have pushed an agenda to undermine Australia’s public broadcaster the ABC.

‘It exposes how Morrison and the Murdoch Press have worked together to try to kill our ABC — undermining its important role in society with an anti-ABC agenda dominating headlines and party room dealings,’ say GetUp in their press release this morning.

‘This film is too hot to handle – no TV station is going to air it. And Scott Morrison and the Murdoch Press will do everything in their power to discredit it over the coming days.’

The film highlights the ongoing cuts and undermining of the ABC by both government and Murdoch in an attempt to reduce the essential role the ABC provides as an independent commentator on Australian politics, culture, and future direction of the country.

GetUp say the aim is to get people watching the film and talking about it and then to put the film in front of key decision-makers and politicians ahead of the May budget.

‘It’s up to every single one of us to ensure this film gets seen. We know if everyone who loves and relies on the ABC joined the campaign to save it, we’d win tomorrow. But to achieve that, every one of us needs to do our part.’

Watch the video… https://www.echo.net.au/2021/02/why-does-murdoch-and-the-government-want-the-abc-gone/

GL

A messenger for good...

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ABC chair Ita Buttrose has accused the Coalition of “political interference” at the national broadcaster, blasting a Senate inquiry into its internal processes as an attempt to “undermine” the channel in a blistering public statement.

Ms Buttrose called on the Senate to terminate the inquiry, set up by Coalition senator Andrew Bragg, and allow an existing independent review to do its work.

“This is an act of political interference designed to intimidate the ABC and mute its role as this country’s most trusted source of public interest journalism,” Ms Buttrose said on Sunday.

“I am duty bound to call out any action that seeks to undermine the independence of the national broadcaster.”

As chair of the Senate’s environment and communications committee, Senate Bragg announced last week a review into the “complaints handling arrangements” at the ABC and SBS.

He claimed “complaints are not being seriously addressed and this is undermining the organisation”, alleging the broadcasters were not doing enough to “swiftly resolve” any “mistakes”.

The ABC last month commissioned an independent review of complaints handling and editorial policies, including training, remedies and transparency.

It came after sustained public complaints from state and federal politicians about ABC reporting on its Ghost Train series, which made a historical allegation about former New South Wales premier Neville Wran, and ABC investigations into alleged sexual misconduct and assault issues in politics.

Senator Bragg said his committee’s inquiry would “examine the adequacy of the existing arrangements to provide a framework that is accessible, responsive, efficient, accountable and fit for purpose”.

Labor’s shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland last week slammed the move as “wasteful and duplicative”, and “another attempt at political interference from this government.”

But in a withering statement on Sunday, Ms Buttrose – who was selected by the Coalition government as ABC chair in early 2019 – went even further.

Ms Buttrose accused Senator Bragg’s inquiry of undermining the ABC’s independence.

“Once again, an elected representative has chosen to threaten the ABC’s independence at the expense of the integrity of this irreplaceable public service,” Ms Buttrose said.

“Any incursion of this kind into the ABC’s independence should be seen by Australians for what it is: An attempt to weaken the community’s trust in the public broadcaster.”

She belted the Senate inquiry as “a blatant attempt to usurp the role of the ABC board and undermine the operational independence of the ABC”, saying only the board was able to set internal policies.

“The fact that these powers are given to the board, not to the government of the day, is a key pillar of the ABC’s operational independence,” Ms Buttrose said.

Alan Sunderland, former editorial director of the ABC, described the statement as “one of the strongest statements I can recall seeing by an ABC chair”.

Ms Buttrose said the independent review already under way would soon release an issues paper and invite public submissions, with a final report scheduled for April.

“Instead of respecting the integrity of this process, the Senate Committee under the leadership of Senator Bragg has decided to initiate a parallel process. I will leave it to Senator Bragg to explain his motives, but the impact of this action is clear,” she said.

A spokesperson for Senator Bragg declined to comment on Ms Buttrose’s statement when approached by The New Daily.

However, he was quoted by the Nine newspapers as saying his inquiry was “certainly not a partisan or politically motivated exercise” but instead “a run-of-the-mill Senate inquiry”.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the Senate committee’s deputy chair, said she would move for the inquiry to be halted.

She described it as a “witch hunt” and an “abuse of process”.

“This is a partisan attempt to use the Legislation Committee to undermine the independence of the public broadcaster,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“Independence of our public broadcaster is an essential part of our Australian democracy. It shouldn’t be up to politicians to dictate what the ABC can and cannot report on.”

Ms Buttrose called on the Senate to “terminate or suspend” its inquiry.

“Politicians, like all citizens, are welcome to criticise anything they find wrong or objectionable that is published by the ABC, but they cannot be allowed to tell the ABC what it may or may not say,” she said.

Read more:

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/11/14/abc-chair-political-interference/

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A parliamentary inquiry into how the public broadcasters handle complaints has been suspended until an independent review into the ABC’s procedures is completed.

Liberal senator Andrew Bragg spearheaded the establishment of an inquiry into the ABC’s complaint processes, saying the broadcaster isn’t taking complaints seriously, having raised extensive grievances himself.

The Senate voted for suspension on Tuesday with the support of Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers, more than a week after the request was made by ABC chair Ita Buttrose.

Senator Bragg said he was disappointed with the result and cast doubt on the current review.

“The ABC’s inquiry is not independent as the ABC’s investigators will report to the ABC,” he said in a statement following the vote.

Senator Bragg said he reserves his right to continue to push for the inquiry and that it be heard in a timely manner.

“The inquiry has already received several sensitive but critical submissions. We must not close the door on these Australians,” he said.

More than a dozen submissions have already been received, the senator said.

Ms Buttrose says the relationship between the ABC and the government is strained and described Senator Bragg’s push as “an act of political interference designed to intimidate”.

I will submit that the ABC inquiry by Bragg is a political stunt... It would be best to see where the ABC is doing a great job and improve by doing a greater job. 

Read more: https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/11/23/senate-probe-abc-complaints-suspended/

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In Gus' view, this "Bragging" inquiry was (is) politically motivated by Bragg, nothing else...

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Liberal senator Andrew Bragg will look at alternative ways for the public to speak to government about their concerns with the ABC’s complaints handling system after his attempts to instigate a senate inquiry were derailed.

Senator Bragg said he received about 20 submissions to the inquiry before it was thwarted by a Greens motion last Tuesday, and has signalled he will find a way to allow the public to discuss their concerns.

“I am not conceding defeat on the ability of the public to have their say,” Senator Bragg said. “There are still options which I am looking at. People want parliamentary privilege for their protection. They can’t get that from the ABC, especially when the ABC spends $26 million over four years on legal fees.”

Senator Bragg’s comments come as the ABC and SBS prepare to face another round of senate hearings on Monday. The amount of public money spent on legal fees and broadcaster complaints handling processes are expected to be the focus of the four-hour hearing.

ABC chairperson Ita Buttrose accused the Morrison government of political interference earlier this month after Senator Bragg announced an inquiry into the way the national broadcaster and SBS handled complaints from the public about its content. Ms Buttrose, who had already commissioned an independent review into the ABC’s complaints handling framework, urged the Senate to suspend or terminate the inquiry.

Her request was granted by a motion from Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young who, with the support of Labor and independent crossbenchers, derailed the inquiry until the next term of Parliament. It was shut down after Liberal senator Gerard Rennick failed to attend a vote on a motion to postpone the inquiry.

Senator Bragg, who is the chairman of the senate standing committee on environment and communications instigated the inquiry, said the outcome was “a backward step” for democracy.

He does not believe the ABC’s inquiry is as strong as the senate’s because it does not involve public hearings, where evidence would be protected by parliamentary privilege. His creation of the inquiry broke from the typical procedure whereby inquires are established following a vote on the floor of the senate.

The findings of the ABC’s review, which will be led by former Commonwealth ombudsman John McMillan and former SBS, Seven and Ten news boss Jim Carroll, are expected to be submitted to the ABC board in March. The review was commissioned after a series of complaints were made by from federal and state politicians about programs such as the Ghost Train series into the 1979 Luna Park tragedy.

Read more:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/not-conceding-defeat-senator-bragg-still-wants-public-hearing-on-abc-sbs-complaints-20211128-p59ctl.html

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In Gus' view, this "Bragging" inquiry was (is) politically motivated by Bragg, nothing else...

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