Broadcasters Defend Impartiality
Australia's ABC, SBS Defend Middle East Coverage Before Antisemitism Commission Amid Bias Claims
Key Points
ABC ombudsman's 2024-25 data show 4,192 complaints, with more than a quarter related to Middle East coverage; five breaches recorded regarding Middle East coverage, none of which were upheld for bias.
Hearing block 3 is examining how antisemitic content disseminates across digital platforms and traditional media, with focus on online ecosystems including Meta, TikTok and YouTube.
Protests are planned outside the hearings, with organisers including Jews Against the Occupation ’48’ arguing the inquiry would silence anti-Israel voices.
SBS says it will provide written submissions to the commission and continues to engage, with executives Amanda Wicks and David Thanh Man Tue Hua among those slated to testify.
Australia's public broadcasters ABC and SBS faced sharp scrutiny at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion this week, with Special Envoy on Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal accusing the ABC of "marking their own homework" and acting as "judge, counsel, and jury." Albany Advertiser The hearings are examining how antisemitic content spreads through digital platforms and traditional media, putting both networks' editorial decisions under the microscope.
Both broadcasters are defending their coverage as fair, evidence-based, and impartial. But complaint data tell a pressured story: ABC's ombudsman recorded 4,192 complaints in 2024-25, with more than a quarter tied to Middle East coverage. Narrogin Observer
Segal Accuses ABC of Self-Policing Its Own Bias
Jillian Segal opened the royal commission hearing with a pointed attack on the ABC. She said the broadcaster cannot fairly assess its own coverage of antisemitism. Her phrase — "judge, counsel, and jury" — landed as a sharp rebuke of the ABC's internal complaints process. Midwest Times The criticism came as antisemitism in Australia continues to rise sharply.
The ABC pushed back strongly. ABC Editorial Director Gavin Fang and Ombudsman Fiona Cameron both testified that reporting centres on Jewish Australians' experiences. They said coverage is contextualised and meets editorial standards. Of five Middle East-related breaches recorded by the ombudsman, none were upheld for bias. Countryman
Complaint Surge Follows October 2023 Gaza Conflict
The 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict triggered a wave of audience complaints. The ABC received 4,192 complaints in 2024-25 alone. More than 1,000 of those were directly tied to Middle East coverage. Albany Advertiser That volume put the ABC's editorial oversight systems under intense pressure.
Despite the high complaint numbers, the ABC Ombudsman found no upheld breaches for bias in Middle East reporting. The ABC says this proves its journalism holds up. Critics say it proves the self-review system is broken. The royal commission is now weighing both arguments. Narrogin Observer
Hearing Block 3 Targets Online Platforms and Traditional Media
This phase of the commission — called Hearing Block 3 — focuses on how antisemitic content moves across the internet and into mainstream media. Platforms under examination include Meta, TikTok, and YouTube. The hearings are looking at whether these ecosystems amplify hate and whether broadcasters like ABC and SBS reinforce it. Midwest Times
SBS executives Amanda Wicks and David Thanh Man Tue Hua are among those scheduled to testify. SBS Ombudsman Amy Stockwell is also set to appear. SBS said it will provide written submissions and remains committed to engaging fully with the commission. Both networks say balanced coverage is a core obligation. Countryman
Protesters Claim Inquiry Silences Anti-Israel Speech
Outside the hearings, protests have drawn vocal opponents of the inquiry. The group Jews Against the Occupation '48' is among the organisers. They argue the commission is not about fighting antisemitism — it is a tool to silence criticism of Israel. Albany Advertiser The protests signal that the inquiry itself has become politically contested.
Supporters of the commission disagree sharply. They say the rise in antisemitic incidents demands scrutiny of every platform that shapes public opinion, including the ABC and SBS. The commission is expected to continue hearing testimony and submissions from both broadcasters as the inquiry proceeds. The Nightly
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