ABC rejects watchdog finding over Four Corners War Memorial program

The ABC has rejected a finding by the Australian Communications and Media Authority that a Four Corners program about the Australian War Memorial redevelopment breached the broadcaster’s impartiality obligations.

ACMA said the March 2025 episode, titled Sacrifice, “unduly favoured one perspective”. The regulator said the program did not adequately explain the findings of an Australian National Audit Office audit and conflated stages of the memorial’s redevelopment, which it said was likely to confuse viewers.

ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the episode had not breached accuracy requirements, but still failed to meet the impartiality obligations in the ABC code of practice. She said the cumulative effect of the program’s framing, strong and emotive language, and the selection and differing treatment of interviewees favoured critics of the redevelopment.

ABC managing director Hugh Marks rejected the finding. He said the interpretation of the code, if applied more broadly across the industry, could have a “chilling effect” on investigative journalism and could restrain journalists from questioning public officials, seeking explanations and clarifying matters of public importance.

In its formal response, the ABC said ACMA had misinterpreted the policies governing its content, misrepresented the program’s tone and created an unprecedented and unworkable standard for impartiality. The broadcaster also said the finding unfairly impugned reporter Mark Willacy’s integrity and failed to recognise the program team’s efforts to ensure impartiality.

The ABC said the program had examined concerns about the multi-million-dollar renovation and extension of the memorial and had sought responses from those responsible for the project. It said Four Corners had engaged with the Australian War Memorial before filming and placed all issues featured in the program on the agenda. The ABC said it stood behind the team and did not plan to remove the episode from its iview service.

The broadcaster’s Ombudsman Office had previously found that the episode did not breach ABC standards for accuracy, impartiality or fair and honest dealing. O’Loughlin said it was disappointing that the ABC regularly disputed ACMA findings. The ABC said it respected the regulator’s role and had accepted most of its rulings in the past. ACMA’s decision is the second this year involving a Four Corners program, after a separate finding concerning the 2023 Water Grab episode.