Adjudication No. 1295 (adjudicated September 2005) [2005] APC 28

Adjudication No. 1295 (adjudciated September 2005)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Nigel Morris of Gunnedah, New South Wales, against The Sun Herald, Sydney, for the newspaper's decision not to run an article he had submitted.

On 19 June The Sun Herald published an opinion page article by Senator Guy Barnett proposing it was time to replace the Queen's Birthday public holiday with an alternative day with more relevance to Australia's heritage and more significance for the Australian people.

Mr Morris believed his proposed article, which visited the on-going Republic versus Monarchy debate, would balance Senator Barnett's contribution.

In its reply to the complaint The Sun Herald pointed out they had published a balancing letter to the editor on the matter and that Mr Morris' offered piece was unusable.

The Council is a strong supporter of editorial discretion to determine what is in fact newsworthy. Accordingly the complaint is dismissed.O