ABC chairman Kim Williams has launched a blistering attack on Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan, just days after correspondent Laura Tingle was ‘backed’ for her comments on the Coalition at 7.30am.
Speaking on a panel at the Vivid Festival in Sydney on Wednesday evening: Mr Williams said Mr Dutton’s nuclear policy “didn’t contain any form of policy formulation”.
In comments reported by the news website Oh dearthe national broadcaster’s boss said the coalition had announced the policy “as a healthy snack, without details on 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 for the ABC”.
‘I speak as an Australian citizen and, like every Australian citizen, have the right to have an opinion about the need for good public policy in our country.’
ABC chairman Kim Williams (pictured) has launched a blistering attack on Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan, just days after reporter Laura Tingle was ‘backed’ for her comments on the Coalition at 7.30am.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said if the Coalition wins the next election and goes ahead with its nuclear plans, the power stations will go to National Party seats. A nuclear power plant is depicted
Speaking at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on May 26, Tingle, the chief political correspondent for the 7.30pm programme, called Australia “a racist country”.
‘We are a racist country, let’s face it. We always have been, and it’s very depressing,” she said.
She also accused Mr Dutton of fanning the flames of anti-migrant sentiment, and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Tingle accused Dutton of ‘dog whistling’ and said his call to reduce immigration did not make ‘rational sense’.
She later doubled down on her claims in an article published on the ABC website.
“I did note on Sunday that we are a racist country, in the context of a discussion about the political prospects that await us,” she wrote.
‘I didn’t say every Australian is a racist. But we clearly have a problem with racism.”
ABC News director Justin Stevens said Tingle’s initial comments “lacked the context, balance and supporting information of her work for the ABC and would not have met the ABC’s editorial standards.”
He added that the broadcaster’s “editorial standards play a crucial role.” Laura has been reminded of their application both at external events and in her work and I have advised her on the comments.’
In March, Williams told ABC staff they would have to leave if they breached the national broadcaster’s code on balance.
“If you don’t want to express a position that strives for impartiality, don’t work at the ABC,” he said.
On Thursday, Rick Morton, a senior reporter at the Saturday Paper, tweeted that he “can’t wait for Justin Stevens’ note saying Kim Williams violated editorial policy.”
Just hours before Mr Williams commented, Nationals leader David Littleproud said if the Coalition wins the next election and goes ahead with its nuclear plans, the power stations will go into National Party seats.
Mr Littleproud said Australians would “very soon be aware of the specific locations” being proposed.
“We have said very clearly that they will be limited to where there are existing coal-fired power stations, so we do not need the additional 28,000 transmission lines to connect the renewables.
“It’s clear: there are 12 to 14 existing coal-fired power stations across the country, so we can limit ourselves to that,” he told ABC Breakfast.
But Williams said the coalition was not doing enough to explain its nuclear plans.
He said that in the past, governments published green papers, which were intended to stimulate discussion from all interested parties on important issues.
“And then they published a white paper, an announcement of the intended direction of government, from which there would be a debate in parliament, and then legislation would emerge,” he said.
‘That was the traditional process for formulating government policy, especially when it comes to crucial issues such as energy policy. I think it’s a pretty good system.’
Mr Williams stood by his comments, telling Crikey he was ‘trying to be as careful as possible but still answering the question’.
Speaking at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on May 26, Laura Tingle (pictured), the chief political correspondent for the 7.30pm programme, called Australia “a racist country”.
ABC’s Laura Tingle accused Peter Dutton (pictured) of ‘dog whistling’ and said his call to reduce immigration did not ‘rationally make sense’
“It wasn’t said in some kind of forceful way, ‘I’m taking on the opposition here,’ it was said as a commentary on government policy, the formulation of government policy and the process of government policy.”
An ABC spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The ABC chairman Kim Williams is not an ABC employee and is not directly involved in creating and publishing journalism.
“Mr. Williams stated that he made his comments as a private citizen.”
Mr Dutton has also been contacted for comment.