ABC and SBS: Labor Rejects External Ombudsman Proposal
Australia’s Labor government will keep the ABC and SBS ombudsmen rather than adopt a proposal for an external watchdog to review the broadcasters’ Gaza coverage. Government sources say the media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, can already investigate complaints escalated beyond the broadcasters’ internal processes.
Australia’s Labor government will not replace the ABC and SBS ombudsmen with an external oversight body, rejecting a proposal to change how complaints about Gaza coverage are handled. Government sources say the Australian Communications and Media Authority can already investigate complaints escalated beyond the broadcasters’ own processes.
The proposal came from antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, who called for an “external independent ombudsman” to monitor ABC and SBS coverage of the war in Gaza and assess whether the publicly funded broadcasters meet their stated standards for accuracy and impartiality.
Regulator already handles escalated complaints
Segal suggested transferring some responsibilities from the broadcasters’ ombudsmen to an outside body, similar to oversight in telecommunications and banking. The government’s position is that the communications regulator already provides an independent avenue for complaints that need further investigation.
The ABC has described its complaints process as “the most robust and transparent in the Australian media.” Both broadcasters have said they are subject to external review by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
A spokesperson for federal Communications Minister Anika Wells thanked Segal for her work and said antisemitism had no place in Australia. The spokesperson described it as an evil “that tears at the fabric of our country … [and] puts the peaceful, free and equal society we cherish at risk”.
Royal commission report expected
Labor could consider changes in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is scheduled to report in mid-December. Former High Court judge Virginia Bell heads the commission, established after the antisemitic Bondi Beach massacre in December 2025.
“The government will soon receive the final report from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion,” Wells’ spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the government would continue working with Segal, the Jewish community and Australians to combat antisemitism and strengthen social cohesion.
Segal said the independence of public broadcasters must be protected, while arguing that it should not exempt them from external scrutiny. The ABC ombudsman has previously investigated public complaints about Middle East and Gaza coverage, including coverage of the Israeli president’s visit to Australia and an address by the Israeli ambassador at a press club.
