ABC rejects media regulator’s finding that Four Corners program failed impartiality test

The ABC’s managing director has rejected the findings of an investigation conducted by the media regulator that found a Four Corners program on the Australian War Memorial redevelopment unduly favoured a critical perspective and failed its impartiality obligations.

A statement by the Australian Communications and Media Authority on Thursday morning said the March 2025 episode Sacrifice, led by reporter Mark Willacy, failed in its analysis of the redevelopment consultation process, selection and treatment of interviewees and didn’t adequately explain the findings of an Australian National Audit Office report, primarily focusing on its deficiencies.

ABC boss Hugh Marks slammed the regulator’s findings, rejecting its interpretation of the ABC’s code of practice and argued this interpretation will have a damaging effect on investigative journalism in the future.

“If this interpretation of the code is applied, including more widely across the industry, it could have a chilling effect on the body of investigative journalism that delivers the most important stories that serve the public interest,” Marks said in a statement to this masthead.

An ABC spokesperson added the ACMA finding creates an unworkable interpretation of impartiality and imposes false balance on public interest reporting.

“It fails to understand the difference between an explanatory interview and an accountability interview, and the obligation on public officials to be held to appropriate scrutiny,” the spokesperson said.

The broadcaster said it stands by Willacy, the Four Corners team and the processes that were followed in putting the program to air, and the program would remain online, in its entirety.

The complaint was made by Kim Beazley, the War Memorial chairman and former Labor leader, who is also a board director for defence company Luerssen and an adviser to Lockheed Martin.

The program included some interviewees alleging the War Memorial renovations were turning it into a theme park for war, and that there was little oversight into the process by which the Scott Morrison government announced more than $500 million in funding for the redevelopment.

The announcement was made before an $11 million business case into the development had been completed, the program said. It also reported that the War Memorial was under fire for accepting money from some of the world’s biggest weapons manufacturers, like Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems.

But the media watchdog’s investigation found that Four Corners conflated different stages of this consultation process, likely leaving viewers confused “as to the accuracy of the claims” made by the Memorial’s director, Matt Anderson.

ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the Four Corners program must comply with the ABC’s code of practice obligations for due impartiality.

“We found that the cumulative effect of the program’s framing, its use of strong and emotive language and its selection and differing treatment of interviewees unduly favoured critics of the redevelopment,” O’Loughlin said.

The ABC also has its own independent Ombudsman, which received three complaints regarding the program in 2025. It found there had been no breach of its standards.

The ACMA also said it received a complaint regarding the accuracy of the program, though found the program did not breach the public broadcaster’s code in this regard.

O’Loughlin said it is disappointing that the ABC rejects the findings of the investigation, especially as it’s the second time this year the regulator has found the program to be in breach of its code of practice, following a 2024 episode Water Grab.

The ACMA cannot compel the ABC to remove the episode or retract parts of it.

In 2023, a judge found a Four Corners program fronted by Willacy into former Commando Heston Russell defamed him, ordering the broadcaster to pay $390,000 in damages.

The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.