Adjudication No. 460 (October 1990) [1990] APC 32

ADJUDICATION No. 460 (October 1990)

The Press Council has considered a complaint from a former Box Hill (Victoria) councillor against the Progress Press over an article and editorial dealing with the council's vote in support of an extension to Melbourne's Eastern Freeway and Ringwood bypass.

The complaint involves local politics dating hack for several years and controversial issues concerning roads and environment, all set in the atmosphere of council elections.

Given the circumstances, the Press Council commends to the complainant, Mr Richard Anderson, the Progress Press's offer to publish a letter from him to explain his position and how he claims to have been misrepresented.

The Press Council understands Mr Anderson's objection to unsourced accusations made against him of varying, in a bid for votes, his position from opposition to the road plans to approval because of a change in his electoral boundaries. Nevertheless, there is no reason to believe such accusations were not made.

Another point raised by Mr Anderson was that the council vote was reported by the Progress Press, and then commented upon editorially, as being decided on the casting vote of the mayor. Mr Anderson said that this was not so; the vote was five to four in favour of accepting the road plan, with no casting vote being used. It appears, since the paper does not deny it, that this was the case.

Much of the problem in this complaint is that Mr Anderson appears to some, rightly or wrongly, to have changed from opposition to the road plans to strong approval over a period of five years.

Mr Anderson denies that his approval was strong and points to his moving of a council motion to have an inquiry into the road plans, and the need for him during his mayoral term of 1988/1989 to speak as mayor, not merely for himself.

Mr Anderson also claims to have been quoted out of context, but as far as the Press Council can see this has not been clearly established.

The Press Council suggests Mr Anderson takes up the Progress Press's offer of publication.