ABC’s reluctant apology says it all

So the ABC has finally relented and, it appears begrudgingly, apologised to Gina Rinehart (News, 7/8).

The ABC Ombudsman found that the subject episode aired on July 12 did not breach the ABC editorial standards, which in itself is questionable.

As usual the ABC, when challenged on inappropriate material, claims that it was satire or a form of parody.

The ABC was forced to apologise after Mrs Rinehart allegedly threatened legal action.

Our national broadcaster is a disgrace and embarrassment, and it is no longer fit for purpose. It is a leech which sucks money from taxpayers — nothing more, nothing less!

Bruce Strang, Jolimont

The policy is wrong

If the ABC piece on Gina Rinehart did not breach “editorial policy”, then the policy needs changing.

The Government makes noises around condemning violence against women, but allows the government broadcaster to air such a skit?

Wendy Doyle, Claremont

Telling trigger

The belated apology from the ABC over the disgusting attack on Gina Rinehart in its Race Around The World episode is telling.

Twenty-five days after airing, and nearly a week after being threatened by Rinehart with a lawsuit, it took less than 24 hours after the first senior (male) Labor MPs called for an apology for the ABC to finally provide one.

The ABC is never shy of spending taxpayer money to defend lawsuits about its pathetic so-called journalism, so the pending lawsuit was irrelevant, and shows who are the real masters of the ABC.

Interestingly, not one Labor woman MP called for an apology, but that’s not surprising given their collective history of mean girls treating conservative women badly.

Wayne Perry, Innaloo

Taste of things to come

Is anyone surprised that, notwithstanding the clear outrage in the wide community, the ABC Ombudsman has found that the ABC broadcast film depicting sexual violence against Gina Rinehart “did not breach the ABC editorial policies” (News, 7/8).

For its part, the ABC has belatedly acknowledged “that the episode has fallen short of community expectations”.

It appears that it is of no consequence to hold editorial policies short of community expectations.

The next cab off the rank will be the findings in the royal commission into anti-Semitism and social cohesion.

I have read the commentaries and listened with interest to the evidence of a never-ending list of witnesses relating the devastating effects of anti-Semitic abuse and acts of violence against Australian Jewish communities resulting from the disgusting parades by the pro-Palestinian movement following the 7/10 rapes, atrocities and massacres by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians.

The starting point was clearly demonstrated by the insensitive and abusive parade at the Sydney Opera House immediately following the Hamas attack in Israel.

It was clear for all to see that the Australian Government should have taken immediate steps against the scourge.

However, any such steps, it seemed, would have been in breach of the policies of the Labor Party who preferred to give support to terrorism by the recognition of a non-existent Palestinian state.

It appears to be of no consequence to hold government policies short of the Australian Jewish community safety expectations.

It seems clear from the cross-examination of the witnesses by Commissioner Virginia Bell, that the findings by the commission will be that parades of this nature did not breach the policies and standards of the Australian Government, and wider community expectations, despite falling well short of the expectations of the Australian Jewish community.

From my perspective it seems a safe bet that such a final outcome by the commission will be without any surprise for the Australian Jewish community.

Robin Benjamin, Dianella