Paul Barry 'misled’ viewers about the ABC ignoring negative Victorian Government story

Media Watch host Paul Barry “misled” the public in order to “silence” criticism of the ABC ignoring a major news story about legal experts warning against draconian emergency laws in Victoria, according to Sky News host Chris Kenny.

Mr Kenny said two weeks ago he criticised the ABC for ignoring the significant story about 18 senior legal figures writing an open letter about the emergency measures laws that would give bureaucrats and others even more power over Victorians.

On his taxpayer-funded ABC program, Mr Barry accused Mr Kenny being wrong, citing interviews on ABC radio stations on the broader issue of the laws.

Mr Kenny said in one of the interviews Mr Barry quoted as evidence, the open letter was not even mentioned.
“Doesn't that prove my point, all those resources, Paul Barry and a staff of 10 at Media Watch and that's all they found,” Mr Kenny said.

“The online coverage Barry referred to had a headline about the premier defending his laws and it mentioned Borsky's criticism but there was no mention at all of the 18 senior legal figures and their open letter, the very important story that the ABC was trying so hard to ignore.

“And that other radio interview Barry cited, with Fiona Patten on Radio National, did not mention the open letter, the former judges or the protests from the senior legal figures in any shape or form.

“The interview was about the hotel quarantine inquiry and McDonald threw in this general question.

“Patten criticised the laws, but there was no question from McDonald about the open letter from retired judges and legal figures, no mention of it from him or from Patten.”

Mr Kenny said he owed the viewers – who pay his more-than $200,000 salary – an apology and correction for misleading them.

“Media Watch came up with one mention of the letter in one radio interview,” Mr Kenny said.

“And disgracefully, Paul Barry told Media Watch viewers it was mentioned in online news and another radio interview where there was not a single mention of it.

“In Paul Barry's desperation to silence my criticism and defend the ABC, he has misled the very people who pay his wage.

“I am owed an apology and a correction from Barry and the ABC but don't hold your breath because no-one is in charge at the national broadcaster.”

Видео Paul Barry 'misled’ viewers about the ABC ignoring negative Victorian Government story канала Sky News Australia