Communications’ Minister, Daryl Williams, says the Government had nothing to do with increased scrutiny of ABC election coverage.

The ABC has hired Rehame to comprehensively monitor ABC radio and television content, from now until the pending election. In fact, the arrangement began on Budget night.

Shadow Communications’ Minister, Lindsay Tanner, has accused the Government of trying to nobble the ABC, but Williams says he knows of only one complaint of political bias from his predecessor, Richard Alston, about ABC Iraq war coverage, and that is being investigated.

He denies any Government pressure on the ABC for extra monitoring: “I can understand that the ABC wants to be as sure as it can that its charter obligations – to present fair and unbiased reporting – is fulfilled.”