This letter has been sent to the Australian Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, following a formal complaint made to the ABC Ombudsman regarding concerns about accuracy and impartiality in ABC reporting.
In light of growing public interest — including Phil Dye’s petition — the correspondence asks the Minister to consider whether the national broadcaster is meeting its statutory obligations and whether adequate oversight mechanisms are functioning effectively. The letter also sets out specific questions about accountability and transparency in the handling of complaints.
Letter sent to Hon Michelle Rowland on 18 February 2026
Dear Minister,
I am writing to seek clarification regarding the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Ombudsman’s policy of not reviewing complaints about broadcast or published material that is more than three months old.
In particular, I am concerned about how this policy allows members of the public to demonstrate a sustained or systemic pattern of bias, rather than an isolated incident. Patterns of bias, by their nature, often become apparent only over time, across multiple programs, presenters, or editorial decisions. A three-month limitation appears to make it effectively impossible to submit evidence that shows such longer-term trends.
I refer, in particular, to a complaint I made to the Ombudsman in 2025. My complaint referred to the sustained framing of the 2023 Let Women Speak rally, held in Melbourne, as anti-trans. In order to prove a pattern of bias, I considered some 80 ABC articles, from March 2023 to May 2025. The response from the ABC’s Ombudsman’s office was less than satisfactory. You can find both of my complaints, the two responses from the ABC, as well as links to the various pieces of coverage – Here: https://womenspeaktas.au/2025/10/10/abc-bias-in-terminology-used-to-describe-the-let-women-speak-rally-letter-to-the-abc-ombudsman/
Rather than engage with the complaint, the Ombudsman simply ruled it out on the basis that it fell outside the 3-month window. (As an aside, five of those articles did fall within the 3-month window).
Could you please explain how the current policy is intended to accommodate concerns about ongoing or structural bias within the ABC, rather than single, recent items? Additionally, has the government or the ABC considered whether this restricted review window undermines the ability of the Ombudsman to meaningfully assess allegations of repeated or entrenched bias?
Given the importance of public trust in the ABC’s independence and impartiality, I would appreciate your views on whether this policy strikes an appropriate balance between administrative practicality and public accountability.
Kind regards,
Anthony Johnsen
Correction / Erratum
Please note: As of May 13, 2025, the Hon Anika Wells MP is the current Minister for Communications. We apologise for the oversight and confirm that this letter has been resend to Minister Wells on 27 February
Response from Minister Anika Wells on 07.04.26
