Adjudication No. 950 (October 1997) [1997] APC 51

ADJUDICATION No. 950 (October 1997)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint against The Queanbeyan Age by Stephen Harrison of Narrabundah, ACT.

Mr Harrison's complaint stemmed from a deal some years ago when he bought an interest in a block of land in a much-promoted proposed development in NSW, close to Canberra.

Mr Harrison sought to interest The Queanbeyan Age in his complaints about the failure of the project, alleging he was the victim of a "shonky deal".

According to The Queanbeyan Age's response to the Press Council, a reporter interviewed him and made substantial inquiries. However, the newspaper's investigation raised doubts so no story was written.

Mr Harrison's case to the Press Council was that the newspaper was not prepared to expose the property scheme, and the Press Council should conclude that the paper was guilty of suppressing information, probably frightened of litigation.

However, the case made out by Mr Harrison is a series of assertions without concrete evidence, and the Press Council concludes that the newspaper carried out its journalistic function with diligence and fairness and based its decisions on proper assessments by the editorial staff.