Adjudication No. 242 (July 1985) [1985] APC 34

ADJUDICATION No. 242 (July 1985)

The Orange Trades and Labor Council and the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board complain of the issue of the Golden West Regional Shopping News of 28 November 1984, which was edited and published by a Mr J. Brunker.

The issue appeared with a blank spot on the front page and an enclosed handbill headed "The front page story they didn't want printed". This attacked "the ALP controlled Union (PKIU)" for its refusal to print a story, invoked "FREEDOM OF THE PRESS", and said that "to find that in 1984 a small band of printers are able to censor the press smacks of Orwellian overtones."

There followed the article the printers had refused to print, headed "Secret ALP plan - hordes of Vietnamese to settle in Golden West". The story, which was unsourced and obviously fabricated, consisted largely of a virulent and disgusting racialist attack on Vietnamese, and raised the spectre of "hordes" being settled in the area. It concluded "Only an anti ALP vote can prevent this happening." It was published days before the Federal election.

The publication has not appeared for a considerable time. Despite a number of invitations, Mr Brunker has not replied to the complaints.

This is one of the most blatant and deplorable abuses of the freedom of the press that has come to the notice of the Press Council. The Council upholds the complaints and censures the publication and those responsible for it.