ABC and SBS Coverage Solutions Ill-Conceived and Dangerous, Says Former Editorial Director

Alan Sunderland, former ABC editorial director, argues that proposals by Australia's antisemitism envoy for public broadcasters to adopt an external definition of antisemitism and establish an oversight committee are dangerous to media independence.

Brit Brief 10/07/2026 15:14

ABC and SBS Coverage Solutions Ill-Conceived and Dangerous, Says Former Editorial Director — ABC and SBS Coverage Solutions Ill-Conceived and Dangerous

Alan Sunderland, a former editorial director of the ABC and former news editor at SBS, has strongly criticised proposals put forward by Australia's antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, regarding the public broadcasters' coverage of the Middle East. In a commentary, Sunderland argues that while antisemitism is a real issue and the broadcasters' coverage has not been perfect, the proposed solutions are ill-conceived and dangerous to press freedom.

Key Proposals Under Fire

Segal's first proposal is that the ABC and SBS should adopt a specific definition of antisemitism developed by an international body and incorporate it into their own editorial standards. Sunderland rejects this, noting that public broadcasters are required to develop and publicise their own editorial standards, independent of external bodies or government direction. He warns that language can easily become weaponised and that broadcasters should develop their own standards mindful of external advice but not beholden to it.

The second proposal is even more concerning to Sunderland: the establishment of a new independent body to oversee whether the public broadcasters' coverage is antisemitic. He questions who would serve on such a body, how they would be appointed, and why it would be necessary given that the ABC and SBS already have independent ombudsmen subject to review by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

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Dangers of Selective Oversight

Sunderland highlights the risk of carving out a specific area of media bias for special treatment, which he says undermines the principle of a free press. He argues that all newsrooms should self-examine their standards and be accountable to the public for editorial decisions they make, not those imposed by others.

According to Sunderland, the proposals come from a good place but are not the right way to address antisemitism. He calls for public broadcasters to maintain their independence and for the public to hold them accountable for actual errors, not predetermined definitions or external oversight committees.