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Mitch Fifield defends ABC attention

But Minister is also copping flak for accepting a gift from Foxtel.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has defended the government’s inquiry into ABC following Michelle Guthrie’s comments on Friday, saying the public broadcaster should welcome the extra attention.

The ABC managing director criticised plans for a ‘neutrality inquiry’ and calls to disclose staff salaries, labelling plans for the ABC Act as a bargaining chip in media reforms.

But Mitch Fifield has said, “Rather than being pilloried, crossbench colleagues deserve credit for engaging constructively with the government on media ­reform, listening to the arguments and negotiating in good faith.”

Adding that no media organisation was perfect and that public broadcasters should welcome the attention of the Parliament, he said, “The enhanced transparency and accountability measures for the public broadcasters will reinforce the ABC’s commitment to rural and regional Australia and to fair and balanced news.”

Fifield has agreed to bring legislation to Parliament to require the ABC to be “fair and balanced”, boost its regional services and publish the salaries of staff earning more than $200,000.

Meanwhile Fifield is himself being subjected to some scrutiny with questions over his acceptance of a gift of cufflinks from Foxtel just a week after the media reforms deal was signed off.

He declared the gift last week.

Source: Australian Financial Review, The Australian, AdNews

2 Responses

  1. You mean that Get Up are attacking him for a gift that is within the rules and which he declared as soon as Parliament returned from recess complying with the rules.

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