Adjudication No. 1145 (November 2001) [2001] APC 46

Adjudication No. 1145 (November 2001)

On 30 August The Ridge News published a letter to the editor under the heading: Natives provide burst of vibrant spring colour. The central thrust of the letter, as published, was to invite members of the public to remember Wattle Day and also advise them where displays of wattle and other native flora might be viewed in the district.

The author of the letter, Jan Cooper, complained to the Press Council that her original letter was edited by the removal of two sentences which were critical of the Walgett Shire Council's roadside maintenance practices.

The newspaper explained its removal of the passages which it believed were potentially defamatory. However, The Ridge News responded to Ms Cooper's complaint in the following terms:

If Ms Cooper has an issue with the Walgett Shire Council's handling of native vegetation and had the facts to back her arguments, we would be happy to publish an article - with council's side of the story of course.

The Council believes that the deletions did not substantially alter the meaning of the letter. In these circumstances it has detected no breach of its principles and the complaint is dismissed.