Excellent complaint to the ABC from Anthony Johnsen over their failure to cover Anna Cody’s covert campaign to block reappointment of Reem Alsalem
To the ABC Ombudsman,
Recently, The Australian newspaper obtained documents under freedom of information laws in which Dr Anna Cody, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, queried whether influence could be used to block the reappointment of Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. Ms Alsalem sought to intervene in the Giggle vs Tickle sex-discrimination case, while Dr Cody is on the record (Senate Estimates) stating that she does not “understand the term ’biological man’”.
This is a story of significant public interest, one that is highly relevant to ongoing debates about sex, gender, women’s rights and the function of senior public officials, yet it is left to The Australian to report, a publication behind a pay wall and not accessible by all Australians.
Why hasn’t this story been reported, despite its importance? Were editorial decisions made to deliberately exclude this issue? How can the ABC ensure balanced reporting on topics such as gender identity, women’s rights and the Australian Human Rights Commission when it ignores such a significant story?
Regards,
Anthony Johnsen