Former ‘AM’ host, Linda Mottram, has rejected the ABA’s findings of ABC bias and breaches of its editorial code in coverage of the Iraq war.

Mottram has told Errol Simper in The Australian that the Authority lacks the necessary competence to reach such a conclusion.

In a document, submitted to the ABA by her and obtained by Simper, Mottram says the report failed even to acknowledge the complainant had been a minister [Richard Alston, then Communications] in a government which had “a direct interest in securing public political support”.

Mottram says ABA suggestions the experienced AM team would trivialise or exaggerate something as serious as full scale war amounts to “a very serious and damaging slur.

“The ABA seems to play the role of journalist, as if there was unlimited time … and manageable amounts of information to be assimilated. Frankly, in this regard, the ABA is outside its skill base and remit as regulator.

“It needs advice and possibly expert evidence as to the very mechanics of covering this type and quantity of information.”

In short, the ABA confirmed four of five draft findings that the ABC breached its Code of Practice, relating to a requirement for ABC news and current affairs to make ‘every reasonable effort … to ensure that programs are balanced and impartial’.

In response, ABC Managing Director, Russell Balding said: “The ABC notes that of the 43 alleged breaches … the ABA found four breaches – which related to a few minutes out of many hours of coverage of the war.

“The ABC, however, continues to be concerned that the basis upon which the ABA seeks to justify its conclusions is flawed. These concerns were set out in the ABC’s submission to the ABA in January …”

Mottram has received spirited support from Balding, who maintains AM’s invasion coverage was “professional, comprehensive and balanced”.