Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 6:10:44 to 6:14:33
Senator Henderson requests a list of all journalists and media companies hired by the ABC in Gaza for cross-checking against IDF data on Hamas operatives.
Topics: National security, Integrity
Speakers: Senator The Hon Sarah Henderson, Hugh Marks, Gavin Fang, Senator Varun Ghosh
Can you provide on notice the names of all journalists and media companies in Gaza who the ABC has hired going back to the 1st of January 2023?
Sorry, Senator, all journalists and what was the other part?
Media companies in Gaza the ABC has hired.
Sure, I'm sure.
Because some of these journalists work for other media organisations. They may have been used by the ABC. Because I assume you haven't done that.
Well, is your question, Senator, that can we cross-check all of the names that have been notified by the IDF as being harmless operatives as to whether any of those people were employed by the ABC? If that's the question, then that's certainly something we we can provide.
Well that was my that was my earlier question, but I would like if you could provide that on notice. So you haven't done you haven't done that cross-checking?
Uh I mean, Senator, no other thing has come to our attention that I'm aware of that would cause us concern other than the particular stringer that you mentioned.
Um Mr. Fang, when I said you haven't done that cross-checking, you shook your head, so that the answer is no.
No, it's not. It's it's that I'd need to go away and check and let you know.
So have you have you done that cross-checking?
I personally have not done that work. I'd have to check what else was done. But also, Senator, if you wouldn't mind, um I have not been, we have not been provided with any Hamas identity card either. So it would be great if you could provide that to us if that's the.
But Mr Fang, I'm telling you that the IDF has said that it has as part of its work uncovered Hamas ID cards. I do not have the Hamas ID cards. But what I'm saying is that the evidence is overwhelming and very compelling, and yet you've indicated to me that that is not sufficient other than that you've made some inquiries of the IDF.
I'm sorry, Senator, I thought you just said that you had an that you were showing a Hamas ID card for the particular person in question from the board for the ABC.
That the IDF had located the fact that they had Hamas ID cards.
Anyway, Senator, I think the correct step here for us to take is we are treating the matter seriously. We have asked the IDF for confirmation as to the evidence they have based on the response that we get from the IDF, we will take the appropriate action. So I think we treat it very seriously, and that is the appropriate action at this point in time, and that is the steps that Mr. Fang has outlined.
Well, Mr. Marks, I'm not convinced that you have treated this seriously because I can't get an answer as to whether you've appropriately cross-checked the list of 170 journalists on this list. There's no sense at all that the ABC has undertaken appropriate due diligence, and despite the evidence that's been uncovered, you've confirmed today that you haven't taken any action in relation to this ABC stringer who you hired a number of years ago.
I don't agree, Senator. I think we have taken action and we've also uh acted based on the work of never remember the name.
Committee for the protection of journalists.
And have taken appropriate action with the other stories. So I I don't accept your assertion that we've taken no action. I think we have acted.
I didn't say you taken no action. I just said I don't I I am incredulous that you haven't taken this more seriously in the evidence that's been uncovered.
Um Senator Henderson, I need to share the call. Is now a good time to work in there. Thank you. Um I have some uh questions about ABC and its um the copyright protection of its material. Uh does ABC monitor the use of ABC content by third parties?