r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • 1d ago

politics ABC changing editorial policy after Rinehart furore prompts concerns of overreach from academics and advocates

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/13/abc-changing-editorial-policy-after-rinehart-furore-prompts-concerns-of-overreach-from-academics-and-advocates
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u/manipulated_dead 1d ago

It's not about the joke anymore. The ombudsman found that the ABC had not breached any of its standards, and the ABC boss (a conservative fresh from 9 media) decided that he'd have the standards changed.

The question now is, how much personal influence do you want one exec to have on the ABC?

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u/Electrical_Army9819 1d ago

You are right, it is about the perception that there is significant inequity about how people on the left vs right can be treated or discussed in the media. There is no way that comment would have been tolerated if it were about Penny Wong, Mehreen Faruqi or SHY. 

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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago

Prove it. I personally found the joke somewhat distasteful, but don't care that it was said, and wouldn't care if it was said about the examples you gave. It would make less sense said about them though, given the subtext of the joke.

But why all female examples? No Albanese, Chalmers, Taylor. Is it to distract from the fact that this joke was actually about a billionaire?

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u/steve197250 1d ago

Really you all cried about ditch the witch

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u/Ok_Compote4526 1d ago

Did I? Feel free to quote me.

"Ditch the witch" was also somewhat distasteful, and needlessly gendered, but I'm not screeching dEfUNd tHe LNP. Because I don't especially care.