THE EXPENDABLE PROJECT: The ABC: Airbrushing The News (The AFP Raid Affair)

In March 2014, the ABC reported the story of the illegal AFP raids upon the offices of Seven Network and Mercedes Corby’s lawyer. However, the reports had one critical omission: Mercedes Corby was not referred to at all. The raids on her lawyer were completely airbrushed from the picture which the ABC painted.

A member of the public subsequently complained to the Managing Director of the ABC, Mark Scott. Whilst the responses of the corporation were predictable, they did provide further insight into its institutional duplicity and disingenuity.

The full sequence of correspondence is copied below:

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From: Alex Stannard
Sent: 26 March 2014 11:08
To: 'scott.mark@abc.net.au'
Cc: 'Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au'; 'minister@dbcde.gov.au'
Subject: Flagrant ABC News Manipulation
Importance: High

Mr Scott,

It was only yesterday that I was reading about one of the ABC’s direct and conclusively documented lies with respect to Schapelle Corby:

http://www.expendable.tv/2013/12/the-abc-parole-fabrication-2013.html

Today I read the following ABC report on the illegal AFP raids of Channel 7 offices, and the office of Mercedes Corby’s lawyer:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-26/schapelle-corby-federal-court-rules-seven-raid-warrants-invalid/5346758

Except that the ABC didn’t report that, did it?

Unlike every other media outlet, it completely erased the raid on Mercedes Corby’s lawyer from the picture.

Even though, in many respects, the Mercedes Corby raid was far more serious, it was hidden. It was censored from the report. The ABC created a version of events which removed any hint that the Corby family might just be victims of this AFP intimidation, and of this illegal activity.

I might ask how such an ‘error’ could be made, given that the AFP seized everything in sight from Mercedes Corby’s lawyer, including the 99.9% of material which had nothing to do with Seven Network, and completely breached lawyer/client confidentiality on countless issues.

But it wasn’t an error at all, was it? The ABC’s catalogue of outright censorship, fabrication and smears, against Schapelle Corby and her family is staggering. It is also documented, as is the fact that you, Mr Scott, have been notified of this on many occasions.

The agenda is obvious. Perhaps you could explain to Mr Turnbull and myself why your taxpayer-funded corporation has perpetrated this for almost ten years, and why you have allowed such a prejudicial, discriminatory and grotesquely offensive culture to develop?

Alex Stannard

Stannard & Walker

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From: ABC Corporate_Affairs11
Sent: 31 March 2014 03:33
To: Alex Stannard
Subject: RE: Flagrant ABC News Manipulation

Dear Mr Stannard

Thank you for your email concerning the story “Schapelle Corby: Federal Court quashes warrants for AFP raid on Seven”.

As your correspondence raised concerns of bias , your email was referred to Audience and Consumer Affairs for consideration and response. The unit is separate and independent from ABC program areas and is responsible for investigating complaints alleging a broadcast or publication was in contravention of the ABC's editorial standards. In light of your concerns, we have reviewed the story and assessed it against the ABC’s editorial requirements for impartiality, as outlined in section 4.1 of the ABC’s editorial polices. In the interests of procedural fairness, we have also sought and considered material from ABC News.

The issue in court in the 26th was action by Channel Seven over the AFP raids on its premises. ABC News advises that the raids on Mercedes Corby were not part of the action and were therefore not reported.

Accordingly, while noting your concerns, Audience and Consumer Affairs are satisfied the broadcast was in keeping with the ABC’s editorial standards for impartiality.

Thank you for taking the time to write; your feedback is appreciated.

For your reference, the ABC’s editorial policies are available online at http://about.abc.net.au/reports-publications/editorial-policies/

Yours sincerely

Audience & Consumer Affairs

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From: Alex Stannard
Sent: 31 March 2014 10:17
To: 'scott.mark@abc.net.au'
Cc: 'Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au'; 'minister@dbcde.gov.au'; 'attorney@ag.gov.au'
Subject: RE: ABC News Manipulation - Now Compounded By Deception
Importance: High

Mr Scott,

The dishonesty really is endemic there isn’t it? Allow me to bring the latest duplicitous ABC response to the attention of Senator Turnbull and the BCC list.

My original email (copied below) referred to the decision of ABC News to air-brush Mercedes Corby out of the picture, regarding the AFP raids on her lawyer and on the offices of Channel 7. Whilst I wrote to you personally, I received a response from your Audience and Consumer Affairs unit. Astonishingly, this stated that:

“The issue in court in the 26th was action by Channel Seven over the AFP raids on its premises. ABC News advises that the raids on Mercedes Corby were not part of the action and were therefore not reported.“

If you read the attached PDF, which is the actual judgement itself, you will find a clue at the top of on the very first page:

[SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED, ADDISONS, JUSTINE MUNSIE, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LIMITED ACN 097 410 896, MERCEDES PEARL ESMA CORBY and VASILIOS KALANTZIS v COMMISSIONER, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, HIS HONOUR MAGISTRATE GRAEME CURRAN and HIS HONOUR MAGISTRATE CHRISTOPHER O'BRIEN]

Was ‘Mercedes Pearl Esma Corby’ not clear enough for your staff?

Or perhaps on Page 6:

[BETWEEN: MERCEDES PEARL ESMA CORBY

First Applicant

VASILIOS KALANTZIS

Second Applicant

AND: COMMISSIONER, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

First Respondent]

Not only were the two actions combined, but it is absolutely impossible to miss this fact. Indeed, every other media channel reported it. The ABC was the only one to censor it out, directly and wilfully removing Mercedes Corby from the position of victim.

Hence, it is clear that ABC News has now been caught lying again, this time to cover for its own gross, deceitful and prejudicial manipulation of the news.

What now? Another invisible and meaningless apology tucked half-way down a never-ending page which no-one ever sees (eg: http://www.expendable.tv/2013/12/the-abc-parole-fabrication-2013.html)? More pretence that the vast catalogue of examples of ABC censorship, misrepresentation, smears and direct fabrication, published by The Expendable Project, doesn’t exist?

This is an issue of integrity and long term abuse of office, Mr Scott. It is, frankly, an issue on which your own position became untenable the moment you started to ignore issues of such fundamental importance.

I have copied the Attorney-General on the basis that I believe that it is well past the time at which a criminal investigation should be undertaken.

Alex Stannard

Stannard & Walker

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From: ABC Corporate_Affairs11
Sent: 16 April 2014 00:08
To: Alex Stannard
Subject: RE: ABC News Manipulation - Now Compounded By Deception

Dear Mr Stannard

Thank you for your email of 31 March concerning the story “Schapelle Corby: Federal Court quashes warrants for AFP raid on Seven” and the ABC’s response to your earlier complaint. The Managing Director has asked me to respond on his behalf.

Audience and Consumer Affairs was incorrect to write that the court’s decision only concerned Channel Seven and not Mercedes Corby. We apologise for that error.

As background, ABC News advises that it did not send a reporter to the court. The original ABC news story was an extremely short radio update based on the judgement; this story was later expanded for ABC Online News. It is understandable that the very brief original story focussed on Channel 7, which had been most vocal and prominent in its concern over the raids. The story was accurate and failing to mention that Ms Corby’s lawyer had also joined the action was the result of the need for brevity and speed, not any deliberate desire to distort or misrepresent the case.

Accordingly, while noting your concerns, Audience and Consumer Affairs remain satisfied that the story was in keeping with the ABC’s editorial standards for impartiality.

Thank you for taking the time to write; your feedback is appreciated. For your reference, the ABC’s Editorial Policies are available at http://about.abc.net.au/reports-publications/editorial-policies/

Yours sincerely

Acting Head, Audience & Consumer Affairs

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From: Alex Stannard
Sent: Monday, 21 April 2014 5:58 AM
To: Mark Scott
Cc: ABC Corporate_Affairs11; expendable@outlook.com; attorney@ag.gov.au; minister@dbcde.gov.au; Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au
Subject: RE: ABC News Manipulation - Now Compounded By Deception

Mr Scott,

Please spare me the pain of your rubber-stamp department adding insult, to the insult already added to the injury.

The latest manifestation of the systemic dishonesty and prejudice is that the rubber-stamp department admits that it was “incorrect” to write this very clear statement:

Given the fact that Mercedes Corby was the co-applicant of the action is written all over the court transcript, it didn’t really take much to deduce this, did it.

So they had to come up with something else to replace this demonstrably false excuse, and retrospectively fit it.

The new excuse for airbrushing Mercedes Corby out of the picture is that Channel 7 was “most vocal and prominent”. Most vocal? That’s another lie I’m afraid. Mercedes Corby’s lawyer took immediate action, complained clearly and loudly, and promptly issued media releases (unreported by the ABC, naturally). Most prominent? That might just have something to do with media reporting: such as your corporation at work with the airbrush.

I should add that every other media outlet managed to include her. Perhaps they report on news value, rather than prominence: but really, we both know that this has nothing to do with prominence don’t we.

The rubber-stamp continues with “the result of the need for brevity and speed, not any deliberate desire to distort or misrepresent the case”.

So 50% of the applicant team was omitted in a hurry and through space demands: for the want of one extra sentence the story was manifestly altered.

Seriously? Is that really the best they can do?

That one sentence was more fundamental and important in terms of accurately conveying the news than almost all of the others. 50% of the applicant team was omitted and wiped, and that 50% was the family around whom this whole case revolves!

And you seriously, in your wildest dreams, think that is a tenable new excuse for this flagrant news manipulation?

I don’t have to remind of the context, but I will. This is just the latest of hundreds of instances of censorship, fabrication, smear and even outright documented lies, emanating from the ABC against Schapelle Corby and her family. Many of them have been captured, and reported online:

http://www.expendable.tv/2012/01/australian-broadcasting-corporation.html

When confronted, your rubber-stamp department always has a ridiculous and changeable excuse up its sleeve, to cover for the stark and flagrant misconduct. They appear to be as shameless as your board, Mr Scott.

Again, I have copied the Attorney-General, as I believe it is well past time that a criminal investigation was undertaken.

Alex Stannard

Stannard & Walker

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From: ABC Corporate_Affairs11 [mailto:CORPORATE_AFFAIRS11.ABC@abc.net.au]
Sent: 06 May 2014 04:54
To: 'alex.stannard@l8r.mobi'
Subject: RE: ABC News Manipulation - Now Compounded By Deception

Dear Mr Stannard

Thank you for your email. The Managing Director has asked me to respond on his behalf.

I am sorry our latest response did not satisfy you. It was unfortunate that initially we were wrongly advised in relation to Mercedes Corby’s involvement in the case, but I can assure you it was not the result of any malice or conspiracy as you seem to suggest. It was simply a result of human error.

Yours sincerely

Head, Audience and Consumer Affairs

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From: Alex Stannard
Sent: 06 May 2014 18:33
To: 'scott.mark@abc.net.au'; 'ABC Corporate_Affairs11'; 'board@abc.net.au'
Cc: 'attorney@ag.gov.au'; 'minister@dbcde.gov.au'; 'Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au'; 'expendable@outlook.com'
Subject: RE: ABC News Manipulation [Compounded By Deception]
Importance: High

Sometimes, accepting culpability, and addressing its implications, extends beyond pragmatism and common sense. It can be a fundamental matter of honour and integrity.

The excuse of “human error”, for the latest example of gross misrepresentation, comes as almost an insult in the circumstances. This could not have been an error. The inclusion of Mercedes Corby, whose family this story was actually about, could not have been overlooked by accident. It was patently and demonstrably intentional.

How many times are you going to push the “human error” excuse on this case? Was the recent incident, in which the ABC directly manipulated an AAP report, to add its own damaging and malicious fabrication, also “human error”?

http://www.expendable.tv/2013/12/the-abc-parole-fabrication-2013.html

What about the foul mouthed abuse of Mercedes Corby by your ignorant LateLine reporter? Was he making a “human error” with his obnoxious insulting and obscene tirade?

http://www.journoz.com/schapellecorby/abc.mp3

What about the vilification and ridicule of family members, time and time again, across your network? Or the manufacture of revolting fiction re Schapelle Corby’s dead father, broadcast under cover of ‘dead men can’t sue’, but presented as fact? Or the open breach of FOI legislation in preventing transparency? Or even the intrusions into Kerobokan prison, which constituted complicity with the abuse of human rights?

I am sure you know where the shocking catalogue of transgression, misconduct, and corruption, is held:

http://www.expendable.tv/2012/01/australian-broadcasting-corporation.html

Are all these instances of “human error”?

They are not. This is a consistent pattern of appalling hostility, which is documented and conclusively proven.

It is wilful, and it exposes a sneering culture of prejudice and arrogance, in breaching not only the terms of the ABC’s remit, but the common law of the Commonwealth of Australia. The refusal of Mark Scott to reply personally, let alone accept culpability, compounds this grave situation even further.

I have again copied a number of relevant third parties, and I urge the ABC’s board to address these serious matters with urgency and due diligence.

Alex Stannard

Stannard & Walker

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From this point, the ABC simply refused to respond. Yet another flagrant abuse had been passed off as “human error”. There was no apology to Mercedes Corby, and no-one was held to account. It was business as usual.

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