The ABC Is Required To Be Impartial

Last Friday (23/11) Jon Faine, presenter of Mornings With Jon Faine, weekdays on ABC Local Radio 774 (Victoria)  most probably breached the ABC's Code of Practice, particularly Section 2 which relates to accuracy (according to the standards of recognised journalism); Section 4 which covers impartiality and diversity of perspectives: weight of evidence; fair treatment and open-mindedness and Section 5 relating to fair and honest dealings.  I suggest you listen to his broadcast and determine for yourself whether or not Michael Smith was given an opportunity (unhindered) to respond to the smearing Faine inflicted on him during his programme which went to air on the 22nd November, 2012.    I don't believe he was and that would appear to be in breach of Clause 5.3 of the ABC's Code of Practice.

The same treatment was dished out to The Age's Editor-at-large, Mark Baker.

Faine's segment was a follow-up of his pathetic attempt to cover, in his own lunchbox, the AWU/Gillard/Wilson/Slater & Gordon affair which went to air the previous day.  Faine, of course, pummels away at his audience by saying Prime Minister Gillard has nothing to answer and has done no wrong and he, himself, must be thick and two bricks" and he "just doesn't get it."  He doesn't "get" what all the fuss is about.  Well, he wouldn't "get it" if he is too left-blinkered to do some basic research.

Shock-Jock Faine's role as an ABC presenter is to be impartial.  He is not supposed to be a propaganda-peddler for the ALP.  Nor should Faine apply his own form of censorship by talking over guests and callers to deliberately stifle broadcast of their views.

I believe Faine must apologise, on air, to Messrs. Smith and Baker.  Both deserved some respect.  Respect Faine denied them.  Perhaps an apology should also be extended to Mr. Ralph Blewitt, an associate of PM Gillard's ex boyfriend, Bruce Wilson and who later became the fall-guy as Wilson went about syphoning off money from a dodgy slush fund set up on Wilson's instructions by the then equity partner with the firm, Slater & Gordon, Julia Gillard.

All the evidence has been compiled through the thorough investigative journalism of one Michael Smith and can be found on his Blog.

In Thursday's AWU segment, oracle Faine attempted to discredit Blewitt by referring to some scuttlebutt lifted from a Western Australian commercial radio programme as proof Blewitt was untrustworthy, a con-man.  Of course, Blewitt has already admitted he has had a pretty shady past.  However, Faine, in his infinite wisdom relied on the words of "Penny" who identified herself as Blewitt's sister.  I put it to Faine:  Did you bother to check the bona fides of this caller "Penny" before you used her words on the ABC to smear Ralph Blewitt?

I don't think the ABC should retain the services of someone who waves his political affiliations so publicly.  Such bias within the ABC is surely going to backfire sooner or later.  This organisation relies on funding from the taxpayer, afterall.  An awful lot of people are calling for the wrecking ball to go through the joint as soon as the Coalition take over at the next election.

It was a disgraceful week for Jon Faine and a disgraceful week for the ABC.