The Federal Opposition has joined calls for the immediate removal of David Flint as ABA Chairman.
Shadow Communications’ Minister, Lindsay Tanner, says two further issues make Professor Flint’s position even more untenable:
“Before an ABA hearing regarding 2UE on October 19, 1999, Professor Flint
stated that his contact with Alan Jones consisted of two social meetings at a book launch and a memorial. Professor Flint failed to mention the letter of praise he wrote to Alan Jones on June 11, 1999, which is now on the public record.
“He also failed to mention the ‘stream of letters’ between him and Jones he referred to on the 7.30 Report. At best, Professor Flint failed to fully
disclose his contact with Alan Jones at an ABA public hearing he presided
over. At worst, he misled the hearing.
“Leaked ABA Board Minutes, published this morning, also show several ABA
Board members canvassed new conflict of interest concerns regarding Professor Flint on March 3 this year. Professor Flint has refused to remove himself from the ABA inquiry into former Communications’ Minister, Richard
Alston’s claims of ABC bias in its coverage of the Iraq war. This is despite Flint being on the public record, criticising the ABC and supporting the war in Iraq.
“The leaked ABA minutes appear to contradict Professor Flint’s statements on the 7.30 Report, two days ago, that the Board did not request legal advice
regarding the matter. The documents also reveal an ABA Board deeply
concerned about the conduct of Professor Flint.
“Professor Flint’s position is now completely untenable. He must resign
immediately. He must not be allowed to preside over the ABA’s investigation
into the ABC. The Minister must call on the ABA to account for the behaviour
of its Chairman.”
Turning the spotlight on the Prime Minister, Tanner also says “the claim by John Laws that Alan Jones gave political support to John Howard in return for reappointing Professor David Flint amounts to an accusation of corrupt behaviour… If the claim is true, John Howard has traded an appointment… in return for political favours.”
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Mark Latham, says an independent public inquiry is needed into whether John Howard was pressured by Alan Jones to reappoint David Flint.
Mr Latham has told ABC regional radio: “They are very, very serious allegations. We need to get to the facts of the matter. We need an independent public inquiry.”
He says Mr Howard has been put in the middle of sledging between Jones and John Laws: “You can’t have that cloud hanging over the Office of the Prime Minister. That’s why you need a proper process to establish the facts.”
He says there’s no problem with people having friendships, as long as there’s no undue influence.
(For more on Flint/Jones/Laws from the newspapers, click on ‘Paper Clips’ in the red left hand column.)