Adjudication No. 1246 (July 2004; re-issued September 2004) [2004] APC 21

Adjudication No. 1246 (July 2004; re-issued September 2004)

The Press Council, on the basis of additional material received by it, has dismissed a complaint from Peter Bates that The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, has treated him unfairly in several instances during the recent local elections. Central to his complaint is the fact that one of the opposing candidates was the partner of the deputy editor of The Morning Bulletin and its free companion newspaper, the Capricorn Local News.

These are the only two local newspapers and, although the deputy editor took leave from work for the two weeks preceding election day, Mr Bates claims that this close, personal and undeclared connection to the publications was the cause of bias against him.

When it first heard the complaint, the Press Council understood that none of Mr Bates' Letters to the Editor were published despite being concerned with local issues regarding the local council, while a letter highly critical of Mr Bates had been published. This letter was of particular concern to Mr Bates who said that the writer's name did not appear on the local division electoral roll, although the writer claimed to be a resident of eleven years. The additional material makes clear that Mr Bates had three letters and a profile published in the election period.

The editor of The Morning Bulletin responded to Mr Bates' claims with a generalised defence and said that Mr Bates was suffering "sour grapes" at losing the election. He maintained that there was no bias in the coverage.

The Press Council regards the matter of reporting local elections as a significant platform in the democratic process and is keenly aware of the often labyrinthine complexities involved. Given the questions raised of a potential conflict of interest, the newspaper had to be careful to ensure that there was no bias. In this case there is no evidence that the overall treatment of Mr Bates was unfair.

NOTE: The Council first adjudicated the matter at its July meeting. On the basis of additional material supplied to it, it reviewed the adjudication in September and issued the finding above.