Adjudication No. 853 (May 1996) [1996] APC 27

ADJUDICATION NO. 853 (May 1996)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed complaints arising from the publication of a feature article by the (then) Daily Telegraph Mirror titled "LOOSE cannons" on 11 November 1995.

In the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and a public speech of the dangers posed by "right wing militia groups" by the Deputy Director General of ASIO, the feature article examined "political extremism and religious fanaticism", with a focus on the 2000 Olympics.

It canvassed the views of journalists, police and some of the self[Dhatch]professed extremists, with an emphasis in illustration and text on one David J Palmer, of the National Socialist Defence of Australian Peoples, depicted in military[Dhatch]style uniform upon which swastikas were prominent.

Mentioned in passing was the complainant James Saleam for the fact that, when chairman of Australian National Action Group, he was sentenced to three and a half years jail in 1991 for organising a shotgun attack on the home of Eddie Funde, Australian representative of the African National Congress.

The article said:

"Saleam is out of jail and sources say National Action is once again gaining momentum.

"As the numbers grow, so too will the violence."

Mr Saleam states that he regards this a libel upon him and complains about the article on nine detailed points. His central complaint is that the article gives undue prominence to Mr Palmer's views as representative of the extreme right, and the very prominent photograph of Mr Palmer tends to identify others mentioned in the article with "Nazi doctrine or similar doctrine".

Mr Saleam also challenges the views and credibility of people quoted in the article, offers his own "evidence" to support his judgments and concludes that "the newspaper has hoaxed its readers".

The reality is simpler. The article is of a standard type both in substance and presentation. It canvasses a wide range of views without endorsing or evaluating them; it treats Australian extremists broadly in a context created by a dramatic extremist murder overseas.

The article was not about Mr Saleam; he was mentioned only briefly and was not credited with the views of anyone else mentioned. He disputes the view of the right wing organisations and people identified in the article and is entitled to do so. He submitted a letter to the editor for publication which the newspaper declined to publish due to its length.

In any case, the article was not biased against, or directed at, him. It was a reasonable, broad presentation of an issue in the context of a major news event.