ABC reissues editorial guidelines for Voice as tensions grow

“While impartiality does not require that every perspective receives equal time, substantive arguments need to be heard,” it adds. While there is a requirement for all significant views in the community to be presented, this does not extend to opinions or analyses that are “clearly fringe views held by a small minority”.

As legislation enabling the referendum has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the debate will now shift into the public domain, with the official Yes 23 campaign officially launching on Sunday.

News Corp publications The Australian and news.com.au picked up on Morse’s comments in the past week, which included discussion over the Voice’s impact on the January 26 Australia Day public holiday. The ABC later issued a clarification on the comment.

“On the Insiders episode broadcast on June 25 one of the panellists, an ABC reporter, said in relation to people protesting against January 26 that their motivation was to protest against invasion and genocide, including ‘genocide of Aboriginal people that is ongoing today’. ABC News would like to clarify that she was describing the beliefs of some protesters and their motivations, not the ABC’s.”

Morse also labelled the federal opposition’s strategy around the Voice as one that seeks to sow “division and doubt”, in particular relating to Peter Dutton.

“This has been the game he has played a number of times, particularly when it involves minority groups and people of colour.”

An ABC spokesperson also stood by Morse, saying that suggestions the guidelines were reaffirmed to the reporter after the broadcast were “completely incorrect, the reporter was not counselled by anyone”.

According to the guidelines, personal opinions should not be expressed by ABC staff in content they produce for the ABC, however the document notes that experienced and high-profile Indigenous staff may contribute to the public debate about the Voice on both ABC and non-ABC platforms in media interviews and in public forums.

“In these contexts, ABC staff still should not advocate for particular outcomes and should always be respectful and avoid rancorous or personal attacks. However, many Indigenous staff have personal experience that is directly relevant to issues that will be raised.

“The line between analysis and opinion is not always clear. We advise any staff member participating in public debate in a personal capacity to make it clear when they are expressing a personal opinion or conclusion and are not speaking for the ABC.”

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.