Australia's Antisemitism Envoy Urges Independent Oversight for ABC

Australia's envoy to combat antisemitism has accused the ABC of being its own "judge, counsel and jury", recommending the establishment of an independent oversight committee to review the public broadcaster's compliance with its charter obligations.

The ABC and SBS have been called to give evidence at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, with the inquiry hearing that a number of complaints had been received about the public broadcasters' coverage of the conflict in the Middle East.

Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has also been called to discuss those concerns, telling the inquiry the Jewish community had told her the nature and volume of the coverage of the Israel-Gaza war had contributed to "an impression of great negativity about Israel".

"Among the Australian Jewish community there is a common and pervasive perception that has been expressed to me repeatedly, that public broadcasters' coverage of the State of Israel's response to the October 7, 2023 attacks, and the ensuing conflict in [the] Gaza region lacked balance, was over-emphasised relative to other global conflicts, disproportionately gave voice to anti-Israel perspectives," she told the commission.

'Judge, counsel and jury'

Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC put to Ms Segal that it was difficult to verify those community perceptions given the concerns were broad in nature.

Ms Segal said mechanisms like the ABC's complaints management process, overseen by the ABC ombudsman, could be used to test the accuracy of concerns within the Jewish community.

But she said those processes were currently ineffective, recommending an independent oversight board be appointed for the public broadcaster.

"That whole system is not working to assure all of us that the reporting is as per required [by the ABC's statutory obligations]," she said.

"I just don't know how you can think, or how they think, they can set the rules, which are their standards, they can review them, which is their internal complaints system … and they can mark their own homework.

"They are, with respect, judge, counsel, and jury.

Mr Lancaster put to Ms Segal that the ABC ombudsman had a "track record" of causing editorial policy changes to be made in response to complaints about coverage on matters in the Middle East.

"Does that suggest that the ombudsman is functioning independently of the ABC editorial management because there is a track record of causing editorial changes to be made to at least that Middle East guidance policy?" he put to Ms Segal.

Ms Segal said the ombudsman, appointed by the ABC board, was a voice independent of the ABC's reporting, but maintained external oversight was important.

"Most important structures in our society … have external complaints management. It is the gold standard,"

"I think that the media … is incredibly important and we should make them be beyond reproach.

Media authority's role

Ms Segal said the Jewish community had also expressed frustration with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which she described as a "well-meaning regulator" that was "without teeth".

She said the Jewish community was concerned coverage of the Israel-Gaza war by the ABC and SBS had "exacerbated the prevalence of antisemitism in Australia due to the conflation of Jewish identity with the State of Israel and its actions".

Mr Lancaster told the commission ACMA had not found any instances of the ABC or SBS breaching relevant code provisions in coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict or otherwise since October 2023.

"Does that suggest also that the current structure of the ombudsman in each broadcaster is working effectively, that ACMA have not in any instance identified a difficulty?" he put to Ms Segal.

The special envoy rejected the suggestion.

"I just don't accept that,"

"I do concede [ACMA] haven't found a great deal of inaccuracy, but it's the more complex, nuanced issues of prioritisation, impartiality, objectivity and balance that I'm concerned to achieve."

The ABC's editorial director Gavin Fang and ombudsman Fiona Cameron will front the commission on Thursday.

They will be followed by SBS's director of audio and language content David Thanh Man Tue Hua, director of news and current affairs Amanda Wicks, and ombudsman Amy Stockwell.

Public broadcasters release statements

The ABC on Wednesday released a statement in which it rejected "claims that its journalism has contributed to antisemitism or social division".

In its statement ahead of the hearing, SBS said it represented "Jewish Australian stories and perspectives in a way that is respectful, accurate and inclusive".

The SBS also released a 39-page written submission it had made to the commission.

The broadcaster made a number of recommendations, including that the inquiry "avoid changes to governance or oversight arrangements for public service media that would compromise editorial independence, duplicate existing accountability mechanisms or reduce public trust."

Mr Lancaster last week said the inquiry had received submissions from people and groups who were "dissatisfied and highly critical of the public broadcasters' coverage of the conflict in the Middle East."

"There are complaints that the ABC and the SBS have produced coverage that is inaccurate or unbalanced, both in their selection of stories and focus and in the reportage that they produce,"

At the start of the hearing block, Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell AC SC said the inquiry was not required to resolve individual complaints of antisemitic conduct in the workplace or generally to investigate claims of biased reporting in particular instances.

"The commission's focus is on the adequacy of the broadcasters' complaint-handling mechanisms, including with respect to allegations of bias in the reporting of events in the Middle East relating to the state of Israel."

The inquiry is expected to hear from the ACMA on Friday, before the commission moves to Melbourne next week to discuss antisemitism in the university sector.

A group of about 50 people gathered outside the commission building in Sydney on Thursday morning to protest, calling on the inquiry to hear from more witnesses who were "anti-Zionist Jews, Palestinian activists and anti-genocide campaigners".

They carried signs with slogans such as "no pride in genocide" and "anti-Zionism is not antisemitism".