Adjudication No. 1098 (November 2000) [2000] APC 33

ADJUDICATION No.1098 (November 2000; re-issued January 2001)

The Australian Press Council has, after a second consideration of the matter, upheld a complaint against the Mosman Park- Cottesloe Post, a weekly suburban newspaper in Perth.

Peter Jeanes complained over a lack of balance in the paper's 22 July report of a Cottesloe Council development committee hearing that agreed to recommend the approval of plans for a new house to be built for him in John Street, Cottlesloe. An old cottage had to be demolished to make way for the proposed modern residence. The recommendation was to go to the full council meeting the week following publication of the report.

In the paper's report of the development committee hearing at which Mr Jeanes and his architect had spoken and submitted plans, revised following discussions with some complainants, only the views of those who presented submissions against demolition were covered. Apart from making his own comments, Mr Jeanes said that he read three letters in support of the proposal.

The issue was complicated by the fact that the owner-editor of the paper, Brett Christian, a resident of John Street, was a major figure in the campaign against the demolition. He was one of those quoted at some length in the report.

The newspaper had in the weeks before the report, and even earlier, covered both sides of the argument extensively.

However the issue had aroused considerable emotion in the area, and with a formal decision to be made on the planning application the following week, the newspaper had an obligation to present a balanced coverage of the hearing.

This was made even greater by Mr Christian's involvement in the anti-development campaign.

NOTES:

1. Peter Jeanes, the Editorial Manager of the West Australian, is an alternate member of the Press Council, nominated by The West Australian. As is the case in all matters involving a personal or professional interest of a member, he took no part in the debate not voted on the matter.

2. The Council has, on the basis of an appeal by the newspaper, reviewed its original adjudication and re-issued it in an altered form. The finding remains the same.