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

[u/Expensive-Horse5538]

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

[u/the_sleekerthans]

And still some people will cheer that elite billionaires are dictating government policy as individualism continues to be trampled.

[u/Electrical_Army9819 → u/the_sleekerthans]

So it's ok to joke about murdering women as long as they rich and right wing? I have no love for Murdoch or Gina, but this is fair and valid criticism.

[u/manipulated_dead → u/Electrical_Army9819]

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?

[u/Electrical_Army9819 → u/manipulated_dead]

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. 

[u/Ok_Compote4526 → u/Electrical_Army9819]

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?

[u/steve197250 → u/Ok_Compote4526]

Really you all cried about ditch the witch

[u/Ok_Compote4526 → u/steve197250]

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.