ABC chairman Kim Williams launched a blistering attack on Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan, just days after 7.30 correspondent Laura Tingle was “advised” for her comments about the Coalition.
Speaking on a panel at Sydney’s Vivid Festival on Wednesday night, Williams said Dutton’s nuclear policy “lacked the normal fabric of policy-making”.
In comments reported by the news website. CrikeyThe head of the national broadcaster said the Coalition had announced the policy “as a brief commentary, with no details as to emissions targets”.
Mr Williams, who is not a journalist and therefore not subject to the ABC’s editorial guidelines, said he was “not being political” and was “in no way… speaking on behalf of the ABC”.
“I speak as an Australian citizen and I have the right, like any Australian citizen, to have my say on the need for good public policy in our nation.”
ABC chairman Kim Williams (pictured) launched a blistering attack on Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan, just days after 7.30 reporter Laura Tingle was “advised” for her comments on the Coalition.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said if the Coalition wins the next election and goes ahead with its nuclear plans, the power plants will take National Party seats. The photo shows a nuclear power plant.
Speaking at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on 26 May, Tingle, the 7.30 show’s chief political correspondent, called Australia “a racist country”.
‘We are a racist country, let’s face it. We always have been and it’s very depressing,” he said.
He also accused Mr. Duton of fanning the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Tingle accused Dutton of “dog whistling” and said his call to reduce immigration made “no rational sense”.
He later doubled down on his claims in an article published on the ABC website.
“In fact, on Sunday I made the observation that we are a racist country, in the context of a discussion about future political prospects,” he wrote.
‘I wasn’t saying all Australians are racist. But clearly we have a problem with racism.”
ABC News director Justin Stevens said Tingle’s initial comments “lacked the context, balance and supporting information of his work for ABC and would not have met ABC’s editorial standards.”
He added that the broadcaster’s “editorial standards play a vital role.” Laura was reminded of her application at external events and in her work and I advised her on her comments.’
In March, Williams said ABC staff should leave if they breached the national broadcaster’s balance code.
“If you don’t want to reflect a vision that aspires to impartiality, don’t work at the ABC,” he said.
On Thursday, Saturday Paper senior reporter Rick Morton tweeted that he “can’t wait to get Justin Stevens’ note saying Kim Williams violated editorial policy.”
Just hours before Mr Williams’ comments, Nationals leader David Littleproud said that if the Coalition wins the next election and presses ahead with its nuclear plans, power plants will take National Party seats.
Mr Littleproud said Australians “will know very soon the specific sites” being proposed.
‘We have been very clear that they will be limited to existing coal-fired power stations, so we do not need the additional 28,000 transmission lines to connect renewables.
“We are clear: there are between 12 and 14 coal-fired power stations in the whole country, so we can limit ourselves to that,” he told ABC Breakfast.
But Williams said the Coalition was not doing enough to explain what its nuclear plans are.
He said that in the past governments published green papers, which were designed to generate discussion among all stakeholders on important issues.
“And then they published a white paper, which is an announcement of the government’s intended direction, from which debate would follow in Parliament, and then legislation would appear,” he said.
‘That was the traditional process for formulating public policies, particularly on critical issues such as energy policy. I think it’s a pretty good system.’
Williams stood by his comments, telling Crikey that he was “trying to be as careful as possible but still answer the question.”
Speaking at the Sydney Writers Festival on 26 May, Laura Tingle (pictured), chief political correspondent for the 7.30 programme, called Australia “a racist country”.
ABC’s Laura Tingle accused Peter Dutton (pictured) of “dog whistling” and said his call to reduce immigration made “no rational sense”.
“It wasn’t said in a sort of vigorous ‘I’m going to take on the opposition here,’ it was said as a commentary on public policy, public policy-making and the public policy process.”
An ABC spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘ABC Chairman Kim Williams is not an ABC employee and is not directly involved in the creation and publication of journalism.
“Mr. Williams stated that he was making his observations as a private citizen.”
Mr Dutton has also been contacted for comment.
