“At the writers’ festival, I was asked to comment on the opposition leader’s policy on migration and the economy, including housing. Mr Dutton has been vocal on this topic, particularly over the past fortnight.
“I regret that when I was making these observations at the writers’ festival, the nature of the free-flowing panel discussion means they were not surrounded by every quote substantiating them which would have – and had – been included in what I had said earlier on the ABC.
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“This is not helpful to me or to the ABC. Or to the national debate.
“I am proud of my work as a journalist at the ABC, on all its platforms, and I let that work speak for itself.”
ABC news director Justin Stevens said in a statement released at the same time as Tingle’s on Wednesday that her remarks at the festival “lacked the context, balance and supporting information of her work for the ABC and would not have met the ABC’s editorial standards”.
Stevens said in his statement: “Although the remarks were conversational, and not made in her work capacity, the ABC and its employees have unique obligations in the Australian media.
“She has explained her remarks in more detail to ensure there is a factual record of the relevant context and detail. The ABC’s editorial standards serve a vital role. Laura has been reminded of their application at external events as well as in her work and I have counselled her over the remarks.”
Stevens said Tingle was one of Australia’s most experienced, knowledgeable and accomplished journalists, who had “always sought to better inform Australians by cutting through the politics that often alienates them. The ABC strongly believes hearing informed and independent voices is valuable to our society”.
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Tingle has faced criticism in the past for a tweet she made to farewell a colleague who was made redundant. “We grieve the loss of so many of our colleagues to government ideological bastardry. Hope you are feeling smug @ScottMorrisonMP.”
She later deleted the tweet and ABC managing director David Anderson was asked at Senate estimates hearings to explain it.
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