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Report: ABC boss lobbied Minister during tender bid

Two ABC execs are reported to have "inappropriately lobbied" cabinet ministers while the Australia Network tender was under consideration.

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ABC Managing Director Mark Scott “inappropriately lobbied” Minerals and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson while the tender for the Australia Network contract was underway, according to The Australian.

The ABC is in a battle to win the 10 year operation contract of the overseas television service, over a rival bid from SKY News.

ABC corporate affairs director Michael Millett is also reported to have approached Health Minister Nicola Roxon when she was a guest on Q & A.

In a statement to the newspaper, Millett wrote, “The ABC maintains regular contact with politicians in Canberra on a range of issues.

“The managing director confirms the conversation did take place with Martin Ferguson several weeks ago and no details of the tender were discussed.

He confirms contact with Nicola Roxon but notes, “Again, no tender details were discussed.”

Both ministers told cabinet they had refused to discuss the tender for the Australia Network and had rejected the approaches.

Meanwhile the Sydney Morning Herald reports Scott gave a speech at the Australian National University on June 7, in the face of rules that ban public comments by the bidders. He acknowledged legal requirements that forbid the bidders making any public statements on the tender process.

But he went on to say Australia Network could greatly expand its reach if money was made available to subtitle programs in local languages. Bidders are required to obtain written approval from the Foreign Affairs  department before making public comments.

SKY News is one-third owned by BSkyB, which is 39% owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation.

The government recently announced a delay in the decision, and shifted the decision from Kevin Rudd’s portfolio to Stephen Conroy.

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15 Responses

  1. @Hernit – yes, he was one of the last Liberal Party stooges installed by the Howard Govt, which intentionally created a systemic right-wing bias that noticeably affected their news reporting.

  2. To place Mr Scott in context, the following article gives some information on his background.

    abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/s1687585.htm

    He formerly worked for the Coalition government in New South Wales. At one stage he considered running for Parliament as a Liberal Party candidate.

    He was appointed MD of the ABC by the Coalition-stacked Board of Directors.

    Consequently it would be safe to assume Mr Scott is no friend of Labor.

  3. I noticed The Australian gave this story a front page splash yesterday… I wonder what page they buried (the much bigger story) Murdoch’s roasting he’s currently getting in the UK & US?

  4. Yes The Aus has a habit of ABC bashing. Many of those stories I ignore. This one confirmed a discussion by the ABC, and I have included SMH story too.

    The media ownership proposal, which is nothing definite yet, is largely driven by print media issues. But if the call starts to look more closely at TV I would take more interest. It’s one to watch I guess.

  5. “But he went on to say Australia Network could greatly expand its reach if money was made available to subtitle programs in local languages. Bidders are required to obtain written approval from the Foreign Affairs department before making public comments.”
    Surely he can make a valid comment about a service he already operates. He never commented on the tender process at any time. “He acknowledged legal requirements that forbid the bidders making any public statements on the tender process.”
    Let’s farm out Radio Australia too, to 2GB or 2UE. Alan Jones etc. 24/7. Ridiculous.

  6. The Australian newspaper is becoming increasingly untrusted in Australia. I would never trust something with any kind of News Ltd connection and think the Australia Network should never have been put out to tender in the first place.

    Where is your article about proposed inquiry into media ownership in Australia, David? the real story seams to be the controversy over News Ltd breaking the law and the fact that they own even more of our papers than they do in The UK.

  8. @Kaye
    It was Fairfax newspapers that first broke the news that government panels had voted 3 to 1 in favour of Sky’s bid and that the one department that supported the
    ABC bid, Communications, would now be responsible for the tender.

  9. @Lucio – completely agree. Why would the govt even consider entrusting An to a private company? I’m not aware of any other similar service in another country that isn’t controlled/managed by the govt of the day or a publicly funded entity like ABC/BBC.

  10. Sorry, but if The Australian is the one reporting it, then I’m kind of skeptical. if it were The SMH or The Age then this story might be a little more believable…

  12. It’s a pity the AN service ever had to go to tender, as it’s been a major distraction for the incumbent, and a considerable waste of time and resorces for both parties and ministers involved. Surely the ABC given its very nature is the most, if not only, appropriate organisation to handle the mandated requirements of the AN service.

  15. Whose phones did Murdoch’s people have to hack to get that information? Or they just took the more traditional bribe/blackmail approach?

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