Adjudication No. 191 (March 1984) [1984] APC 10

ADJUDICATION No. 191 (March 1984)

The Press Council has considered complaints from Dr Michael Readett against the Hobart Mercury relating to alleged deficiencies in reporting various matters of Clarence Council.

The Press Council view was that the nature of the complaints was such that the parties should have been able to reach an amicable settlement and suggested such a course when the complaints came before it for hearing.

The newspaper offered to publish a correction in the following terms:

"In the Suburban on 21 July last year there was an item about a move to change Clarence Ward boundaries.

"The item said that the move by Cr. Michael Readett was soundly defeated.

"It also was stated that in a similar move at a council meeting the previous year Cr. Readett had been the only councillor in favor of a change in boundaries.

"It has now been indicated to The Mercury that on both occasions Cr. Readett's move for a change was supported by Crs. Brown, Verrier and Campbell.

"The motion was 'that the Council adopt as policy that the Ward boundaries be changed this year and as necessary, but at least each three years, to obtain and maintain equality of votes within the Wards within a tolerance of 10 per cent and that the clerk be asked to draw up a scheme and report back in adequate time for the changes to be implemented this year'

"On both July 19, 1982, and July 18, 1983, the motion was defeated by six votes to four.

"Those against the motion were the then Warden, the late Cr. Barnard, and Crs. Calvert, Reed, McKay, Denholm and Sproule."

Dr Readett says the statement is inaccurate because the members suggested as being present were not there.

The newspaper responds by saying the names were taken from a copy of the Clarence Council minutes which Dr Readett had included in papers he sent to the Press Council. It says he had told the paper's former editor that the names were correct.

Dr Readett says the proposed statement is unsatisfactory as it "offers no suggestion of apology from the. paper for its inaccuracies".

The Press Council finds the correction offered by the newspaper was satisfactory and rejects any suggestion that it should have been in humbler terms. The newspaper is entitled to believe the approved minutes of the council are an accurate record of those attending a meeting.

The Press Council can find no evidence to support Dr Readett's claim of a "vendetta" against him mentioned in his letter of 2 March 1984 to the council on the failure of the attempt by the parties to settle the matter.

All other complaints are dismissed.