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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Envoy to combat antisemitism calls for better external oversight of ABC

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Australia's envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, recommended an independent oversight committee for the ABC.
  • Segal stated the Jewish community perceives the ABC's coverage of the Gaza conflict as unbalanced and overly negative toward Israel.
  • She criticized the ABC's internal complaints process as ineffective, likening it to marking its own homework.

Australia's envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has called for an independent oversight committee to review the national broadcaster ABC's adherence to its charter obligations. Segal told a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that the Jewish community feels the ABC's coverage of the Gaza war has created 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.

— Jillian SegalTestifying before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Segal described the Jewish community's perception of the ABC's coverage of the Gaza conflict.

"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," Segal stated.

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

— Jillian SegalCriticizing the ABC's internal complaints process.

She criticized the ABC's current complaints management process, overseen by its ombudsman, as ineffective. Segal suggested establishing an external ombudsman, similar to those in other industries, to ensure reporting meets statutory obligations. "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," 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.

— Jillian SegalDescribing the perceived conflict of interest in the ABC's internal review system.

Segal also expressed frustration with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), describing it as a "well-meaning regulator" that is "without teeth." The Jewish community is concerned that coverage of the Gaza war by the ABC and SBS has "exacerbated the prevalence of antisemitism in Australia due to the conflation of Jewish identity with the State of Israel and its actions."

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

— Jillian SegalFurther criticizing the ABC's self-regulation.
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Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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