Australian government rejects proposal to replace ABC and SBS ombudsmen

The Australian government will not replace the ABC and SBS ombudsmen with a new external oversight body, a proposal made by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal. Government sources say the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma) already provides an independent regulator that can investigate complaints escalated beyond the broadcasters’ own processes.

Segal’s updated plan proposed transferring some ombudsmen’s responsibilities to an independent body to address concerns among some Jewish Australians about perceived one-sided reporting on the Gaza war. The proposal drew support from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and criticism from the Progressive Jewish Council of Australia and the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, which raised concerns about free speech and conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The government says it will consider the royal commission’s recommendations when its report is due in mid-December.