Federal Government Rejects Proposal to Replace ABC and SBS Ombudsmen
The Albanese government will not follow a suggestion by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal to scrap the ABC and SBS ombudsmen and replace them with an external oversight body, The Guardian reported.
In a list of updated priorities released last month, Segal proposed an external independent ombudsman to monitor public broadcaster coverage of the war in Gaza. The envoy argued the change was needed to ensure publicly funded broadcasters were held accountable to their own stated standards of accuracy and impartiality.
Did you know?
The ABC ombudsman has upheld four out of thousands of complaints regarding Middle East coverage since October 2023, according to ABC Alumni.
Community and Political Reactions to the Proposal
Segal stated that many in the Jewish community remain concerned that coverage they perceive as one-directional may contribute to a hostile view of audiences who support Israel. She suggested transferring responsibilities from the internal ombudsmen to an external body consistent with other sectors like telecommunications and banking.
Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, welcomed Segal’s suggestions. He warned that meaningful oversight of coverage by public broadcasters could only be achieved through external accountability.
Conversely, the progressive Jewish Council of Australia criticized the plan as Trumpian, arguing it threatened freedom of speech and democratic rights. The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network also criticized attempts to conflate legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
“Many in the Jewish community remain concerned that coverage they perceive as one-directional may contribute to a negative – and even hostile – view by audiences of those who support Israel, or have sympathy for it,” Segal said in her updated plan to combat antisemitism.
Existing Oversight and Future Scrutiny
The ABC maintained that its complaints process was the most transparent in the Australian media. Both the ABC and SBS stated they were subject to external review by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Government sources noted this week that Acma already acts as an external independent regulator capable of investigating complaints if escalated beyond the internal ombudsmen. A spokesperson for federal communications minister Anika Wells thanked Segal for her work on Wednesday, stating there was no place for antisemitism in Australia. Labor could consider changes in response to recommendations from the royal commission into antisemitism scheduled to report in mid-December. The commission, headed by former high court judge Virginia Bell, was established after the Bondi beach massacre in December 2025. Wells’ spokesperson said the government will soon receive the final report from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The government will continue to work with the special envoy, the Jewish community, and all Australians to combat antisemitism and strengthen social cohesion.
Questions about the proposed ombudsman and complaint processes
What specific role did Jillian Segal propose for the new ombudsman?
Segal proposed an external independent ombudsman to monitor ABC and SBS coverage of the war in Gaza and ensure broadcasters are held accountable to their stated standards of accuracy and impartiality.
How do the ABC and SBS handle current complaints?
Both broadcasters utilize internal ombudsmen to investigate public complaints and are subject to external review by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
When is the Royal Commission into Antisemitism scheduled to report?
The royal commission, headed by former high court judge Virginia Bell, is scheduled to report in mid-December.
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