Peter Dutton has criticized ABC 7.30’s chief political correspondent Laura Tingle, calling her a “partisan Greens and Labor supporter”.
Dutton appeared on Sydney radio 2GB’s Ray Hadley show on Thursday to condemn Tingle’s comments at the Sydney Writers Festival last Sunday.
While speaking on a panel at the event, Tingle called Australia a “racist country,” praised the Labor Party under the leadership of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and accused Dutton of inciting violence against immigrants.
On Thursday, Dutton reflected on Tingle’s spectacular rant, saying his “credibility as a journalist is really ruined.”
“Laura Tingle has now revealed herself as someone who is partisan, a supporter of the Greens and Labor,” he said.
‘I mean, she just completely destroyed their credibility, but they’re going to keep her because that’s what happens at ABC.
“But, like I say, I think it’s comical and you just let them play their games.”
Peter Dutton slammed ABC political correspondent Laura Tingle (pictured), calling her a “partisan Greens and Labor supporter”.
Dutton’s harsh words followed Tingle’s public reprimand from ABC news director Justin Stevens.
Stevens said Tingle’s comments did not meet ABC editorial standards and described them as “lacks context, balance and supporting information.”
Tingle is one of the station’s most senior journalists and took up a staff-elected position on its board of directors in 2023.
However, Mr Stevens said he had been ‘advised by your comments’.
During Sunday’s panel, Tingle said he couldn’t remember the last time a major party leader was seen “saying…everything that’s wrong in this country is because of immigrants.”
‘(I had) this sudden flash of people turning up to try to rent a property or at an auction and they looked a little bit different – however you define different – (and) that basically he (Dutton) had given them license to be abused and in any circumstance where people feel like they are missing out,” he said.
Tingle accused Dutton of “dog whistling” and said his call to reduce immigration made “no rational sense”.
He also praised the Labor Party, saying: “It’s not just about whether they got rid of Scott Morrison, they’re actually trying to govern, they’re trying to run a government, they’re actually trying to make policy.”
“Whether you think politics is bullshit or not, that’s another issue.”
Stevens revealed Wednesday that Tingle was warned not to misrepresent ABC at “external events.”
Tingle accused Dutton (pictured) of inciting violence against immigrants during a panel at the Sydney Writers Festival on Sunday.
“Although the comments were conversational and not made in their employment capacity, the ABC and its employees have unique obligations in the Australian media,” he said.
“Laura was reminded of her application at external events and in her work and I advised her on her comments.”
ABC chief executive David Anderson will be questioned about Tingle’s comments at a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday.
Despite receiving “counselling” for his rant, Tingle issued a 1,380-word statement Wednesday in which he described reporting his comments as creating an “opportunity for another anti-ABC attack.”
‘This is not useful to me or the ABC. Or to the national debate,’ she said.
“I am proud of my work as a journalist at the ABC, across all its platforms, and I let that work speak for itself.”
Tingle also attempted to downplay his claim that “Australia is a racist country”.
“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 said.
‘I wasn’t saying all Australians are racist. But clearly we have a problem with racism.”
The ABC’s editorial policy specifically states that its employees should not make public comments that could “affect the perception of impartiality of staff and the ABC”, including during external activities.
Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman described Tingle’s comments about Dutton as “extraordinary and completely indefensible”.
Tingle was publicly reprimanded Wednesday by ABC news director Justin Stevens (pictured).
“In addition to her comments about Mr. Dutton, Ms. Tingle has made other statements regarding her views on the Albanian government and the coalition,” he said.
‘While every Australian is entitled to their political opinions, not all Australians are chief political correspondents for the ABC’s 7.30 programme.
“The ABC needs to explain how Ms Tingle’s statements are compatible with her role at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.”
The ABC did not respond to Daily Mail Australia’s request for comment on Monday.
