The Federal Opposition has entered the deepening Telstra-Alan Jones controversy, calling on David Flint to resign as ABA Chairman.
Shadow Communications’ Minister, Lindsay Tanner, says it’s been shown once and for all that Professor Flint is not fit to run our national broadcasting regulator, after revelations by the ABC’s Media Watch of a personal letter he wrote to Alan Jones on ABA letterhead:
“Under David Flint, the ABA has become a widely discredited institution, dogged by allegations of political bias. While chairing the ABA, he wrote a book which was supportive of the Howard Government and the war in Iraq.
“He then directly involved himself in the ABA’s investigation into former Senator, Richard Alston’s complaints of bias against the ABC’s Iraq coverage. The outcome of this investigation will not be taken seriously if Professor Flint remains at the ABA.
“Professor Flint is not an independent umpire – he is a partisan political player. He wrote a supportive letter to Alan Jones and then cleared him of breaching cash for comment rules. He also intervened to overrule a critical ABA draft report into this matter.
“Professor Flint has lost the confidence of a significant section of the community through his actions. As a crucial umpire in our broadcasting system, it is vital that he is seen as impartial. He has shredded that impartiality and he should resign.”
Before Mr Tanner’s resignation call, the ABA chief defended his handling of investigations involving Alan Jones, after Professor Flint’s impartiality was questioned by Media Watch.
Three months after the letter was written, the ABA convened its first inquiry into the cash for comment saga involving Jones and Macquarie Radio.
Two subsequent ABA investigations, chaired by Professor Flint – ownership of Macquarie Radio, and a Telstra deal with the network – both exonerated the 2GB breakfast host.
On ABC radio’s ‘AM’ program, Professor Flint defended the letter, saying it was written before any inquiry was considered: “This was many years ago, well before any of the inquiries, before any inquiry was even foreshadowed.”
He says the nature of the Australian media means he tends to know, or have contact with, members of the media and that is not unusual.
The Jones’ letter is just one aspect of the deepening Telstra-Jones-Macquarie controversy. While stopping short of calling for his resignation,
Media Watch is demanding a new, independent inquiry into Telstra-Macquarie-Jones, after receiving further leaked documents. And, the program says any new inquiry must NOT have David Flint presiding over it.
The leaked documents appear to be a Telstra marketing plan for Jones, the actual Telstra-Macquarie agreement, and the Flint letter to the 2GB breakfast presenter.
A draft marketing plan reveals Telstra proposed spending $1.2m, sponsoring the Jones’ program on 2GB, under a plan to use the broadcaster to improve its image. It details Telstra’s plan for Jones and sets out the benefits of having his on air support. The plan says scripts read by Jones would be based on information provided by Telstra and vetted by its executives before broadcast. (See radioinfo’s in depth report: More Leaked Documents Deepen ‘Cash for Comment II’)