Fed: Democrats call on Flint to stand down from ABC inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2004
Fed: Democrats call on Flint to stand down from ABC inquiry

CANBERRA, April 29 AAP - The Australian Democrats today called on Australian Broadcasting
Authority chairman David Flint to stand aside from the watchdog's inquiry into complaints
against the ABC.

Democrats communications spokesman John Cherry also urged Professor Flint to consider
stepping down from his position before his term ended in October.

The calls come after revelations this week that Prof Flint wrote a glowing letter to
Sydney radio broadcaster Alan Jones just months before the ABA's cash for comments inquiry
in 1999.

Mr Jones' rival, 2UE's John Laws, has also made sensational claims that Mr Jones boasted
about instructing Prime Minister John Howard to reappoint Prof Flint in exchange for his
political support.

Senator Cherry said Prof Flint's position had been "hopelessly compromised" and he
was seen as too partisan to be dealing with the ABC inquiry.

The inquiry deals with complaints by former communications minister Richard Alston
about whether the ABC was biased in its coverage of the Iraq war.

"Prof Flint has continued to be politically active and his views on the ABC, Alan Jones,
the Iraqi war and many other political issues are well know," Senator Cherry said.

"In the current environment it is essential that the ABA be seen to be above any perceptions
of bias or political impartiality.

"I cannot see how Prof Flint can chair this politically charged inquiry and be seen
to be impartial."

Senator Cherry said Prof Flint should also give careful consideration to the damage
his comments this week about the Jones letter scandal have done to the ABA and consider
standing down from his job before his term expires in October.

"He should give careful consideration to the damage that his comments have done to
the standing of the ABA, and consider whether it would be in the best interests of the
ABA for him to stand down early from the position," Senator Cherry said.

Senator Cherry plans to introduce amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act to ensure
all appointments to the ABA are based on a person's merits and free from political interference.

He called on the government and Labor to support the amendments.

Labor had previously called for Professor Flint to stand down and on the government
to hold an independent inquiry into the scandal involving the ABA chair and Mr Jones.

The ABA board is due to meet tonight.

AAP bt/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: FLINT DEMOCRATS

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