Adjudication No. 1207 (July 2003) [2003] APC 23

Adjudication No. 1207 (July 2003)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Warwick Hughes against The West Australian for the article Dream Home on the Nose and an accompanying photograph which appeared in The West Australian on 2 January 2003, a complaint that has engendered exhaustive and detailed correspondence between Mr Hughes and The West Australian.

The 2 January 2003 article by Michael Southwell concerns Chris Wetton, a resident of Beeliar Heights who claims that the nearby Cockburn Cement plant is causing industrial pollution severe enough to cause him and his family to move. The main source of the pollution is "fine brown dust" covering everything.

Mr Hughes maintains that the original article failed to offer a balanced view of the pollution issue by not mentioning a large housing development adjacent to Mr Wetton's house which could equally - he suggests probably - be the source of the dust.

He also complained that the photograph of Mr Wetton with the smokestacks of Cockburn Cement rising clearly in the background was misleading. Mr Wetton's house was 2.6 kilometres from the cement factory, but the photograph was posed and taken closer to the cement works. Mr Hughes said that this would mislead readers about the closeness of Mr Wetton's property to the cement works.

The caption accompanying the photograph fails to identify the location from which the photograph was taken and implies to the reader that it is taken in Mr Wetton's backyard.

Two weeks after the publication of the article, Mr Hughes wrote to The West Australian asking for a new article addressing the issues with a wider relevancy. He also asked for a correction of the false impression given by the photograph.

After its attention was drawn to the concerns, The West Australian published a clarification regarding the photograph. They pointed out to Mr Hughes that, although Mr Wetton's views might not align with Mr Hughes', the story encouraged public and open debate. They also pointed out that they had published some vigorous letters questioning Mr Wetton's view. Mr Hughes has chosen not to participate in this open exchange.

Both Mr Hughes and The West Australian are concerned with the interests of public debate and the Press Council acknowledges Mr Hughes' detailed and thoughtful analysis of the issues involved with the serious question of industrial pollution. It also acknowledges his desire to seek a rational and informed resolution to this problem. The weight of his research and knowledge is evident but they canvass wider issues that cannot be the concern of the Council.

The Council agrees that the original photograph could mislead readers. However, the Council is satisfied that The West Australian remedied this with its clarification that specifically acknowledged the picture was taken not from Mr Wetton's backyard but closer to the factory.

The Press Council also notes that this has been an on-going local issue and that by energetic reportage and opening up the Letters Pages to discussion The West Australian is contributing to public debate which is surely an outcome satisfactory to all parties.