The ABC of misinformation coming to a library near you

Who'd have guessed that a quick read of an email from our local library would have caused me to almost spill my morning cup of cappuccino as I laughed at the irony and sheer hypocrisy of an upcoming " Matter of Facts Workshop" on misinformation.

That topic could be helpful if it uncovered the many examples of misleading statements and policy failures of our political leaders. But the presenters certainly should know all about misinformation (and disinformation) because they are frequently embroiled in it.

To quote from the library newsletter: "Join us for a practical and engaging session designed to help you better identify misinformation and navigate today's complex information landscape. Delivered by the ABC in partnership with the Australian Library and Information Association and Western Sydney University, this two-hour workshop combines expert insights with interactive learning. Explore how misinformation spreads and learn how to critically assess what they see online. The workshop includes a collaborative activity to apply these new skills in real-world scenarios. Ideal for anyone wanting to build confidence in recognising trustworthy information, this session supports individuals to become more informed and resilient members of the community."

Really? Let's start with our national broadcaster which soaks up almost $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding each year while it is supposedly bound to a code of impartiality. But it doesn't employ any presenters or commentators who aren't from team left, it frequently includes personal opinion from reporters supposedly presenting straight news, and if an event doesn't fit its own woke agenda it is frequently ignored, under-reported or misreported.

On the other hand, if it is a scandal or a mis-step from any leading figures on the right, it's headline news for days on end.

Harsh criticism? Let's uncover some recent controversies.

The Afghanistan "doctored audio" scandal (2024)

In a major editorial failure, an ABC report about an Australian SAS deployment in Afghanistan included audio of a helicopter gunfight that had been digitally altered. An independent investigation revealed additional gunshots were edited into the footage to make it appear as though soldiers were firing on civilians. This prompted an internal review, a public apology from ABC Chair Kim Williams, and a commitment to address slipping standards.

Subsequently, former Commando Commander Heston Russell successfully sued the ABC for defamation, with the Federal Court ordering the national broadcaster to pay Russell $390,000 in damages plus his legal fees, with a total cost reportedly estimated at up to $3 million.

The defamation lawsuit and the "doctored audio" scandal were directly intertwined, forming part of a massive controversy surrounding the ABC's investigative reporting into the 2nd Commando Regiment in Afghanistan.

Donald Trump speech editing (2025)

The ABC was heavily criticized for deceptively editing a speech by US President Trump regarding the January 6 Capitol riots. Broadcasters clipped out a key section where Trump stated the purpose of marching to the Capitol was to "peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard," creating a narrower and more aggressive narrative that did not reflect the reality of the full speech.

ACMA ruling on Fox News investigation (2022)

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) officially ruled that a Four Corners investigation into Fox News was "materially misleading". ACMA found the ABC omitted critical context surrounding Trump campaign rallies, excluded facts about the role of social media in the Capitol riots, and breached "honest dealing" standards when approaching on-air talent.

Retraction of Gaza starvation statistics (2025)

Multiple ABC platforms prominently broadcasted a claim by a United Nations spokesperson stating that "14,000 babies would be at risk of dying in Gaza within a 48-hour period due to starvation". It later issued a high-profile retraction after it was revealed the data was grossly misrepresented; the actual underlying scientific forecast estimated 14,100 cases of acute malnutrition over a 12-month period, not acute starvation deaths within 48 hours.

Russiagate

The three-part Four Cornersspecial series titled "Trump/Russia", reported by Sarah Ferguson and originally broadcast in June 2018, which was found to be bogus.

The ABC continues to host the episodes, video clips, and complete transcripts on the ABC News website and ABC iview, and has never issued an official retraction, correction, or apology. The series concluded with a heavily criticized segment stating: "The Kremlin's puppet master now has America dancing to his discordant tune. He couldn't have planned it better," accompanied by dramatic music fading into a portrait of Vladimir Putin. The fundamental premise - that Trump won the 2016 election due to direct collusion with the Kremlin - was heavily undermined by subsequent official US investigations.

Fueling hostility against Australian Jews

Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, testified to the current Bondi Royal Commission that there is a "common and pervasive perception" within the Jewish community that the ABC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza war lacks balance. She stated the reporting repeatedly conflates Jewish identity with the actions of the Israeli state, painting Israel in a "constant negative light" and inadvertently fueling domestic hostility toward Australian Jews.

Disproportionate coverage of Gaza

The Special Envoy accused the ABCof heavily overemphasizing the conflict in Gaza at the expense of other major global events, such as active wars in Africa. Critics claimed the coverage gives a disproportionate voice to anti-Israel perspectives.

On the other hand, ABC Editorial Director Gavin Fang has rejected claims the broadcaster's journalism has contributed to antisemitism or social division. He stated that the network's reporting remains strictly evidence-based, fair, and impartial. (Yeah, right!)

Those are just a few major examples of misinformation but there was also the spectacle of the ABC using taxpayer funds in 2021 to cover approximately $200,000 in damages and legal costs after presenter Louise Milligan was personally sued for defamation over posts she made on her private Twitter account involving former Liberal MP Andrew Laming. This incident sparked immense political backlash, an Auditor-General review, and accusations of a double standard in how the broadcaster handles staff social media blunders.

That's enough background on the national "impartial" broadcaster, but what of its fellow misinformation workshop presenter? Western Sydney University has faced several high-profile incidents involving student activism, police intervention, and academic friction.

The student general meeting (SGM)

Activist group WSU 4 Palestine Collective led the largest pro-Palestine actions in the university's historyat the Parramatta South campus. Students voted heavily in favor of a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) motion, demanding WSU sever research ties with companies linked to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Unlike some universities that tolerated long-term encampments, WSU management did take a strict approach. Protests led to WSU inviting NSW Police onto campusto dismantle unsanctioned demonstrations, resulting in student arrests and suspensions. But this triggered an open letter signed by academics condemning the university for "police brutality" and suppressing free speech.

In light of all the above, I won't be enrolling for any of the workshops at our local council-owned libraries, but its reach goes far beyond our beautiful Sunshine Coast tourism hotspot and final destination for thousands of re-locating southerners.

The sessions are currently touring local council branches nationwide, utilizing video segments from the ABC's own documentary series The Matter of Facts to teach citizens how to identify AI-generated content, fake news, and bias. (Hence my almost choking on my coffee).

The workshop positions the ABC as an authoritative arbiter of truth, at a time when the broadcaster's own internal editorial slip-ups have made it a central subject of controversy. Western Sydney University's Institute for Culture and Society is also sharing academic data on "how misinformation drives social division and hate speech." Meanwhile, its executives have had to defend the institution at federal human rights inquiries regarding the handling of campus activism and its response to antisemitism.

When the workshops content is curated by a single media network and one academic institution, it obviously raises the question of whether they will provide an objective analysis or function as a mass left-wing public relations indoctrination exercise.

Pardon my cynicism, but I think I know the answer.