Received this from the ABC in response to my complaint (i'm assuming the others who complained will have received/be receiving something very similar).
Thank you for your email about a segment on ABC News Breakfast on 7 May.
In accordance with the ABC's complaint handling procedures, your correspondence has been considered by Audience & Consumer Affairs, a unit which is separate to and independent of program making areas within the ABC. The role of Audience & Consumer Affairs is to investigate complaints alleging that ABC content has breached the ABC's editorial standards.
We understand you are concerned that, following an interview with Garry Brennan from Bicycle Network Victoria, hosts Michael Rowland and Karina Carvalho suggested that cyclists should share the blame for ‘dooring’ incidents. This was incorrect.
Accordingly, ABC News broadcast the following correction on the News Breakfast program on 10 May at 7.45am:
Now we just need to make a clarification about a story we brought you earlier this week.
On Monday, our reporter Simon Lauder interviewed Garry Brennan from Bicycle Network Victoria about a campaign to increase fines for motorists who open their car doors into the path of cyclists.
After the interview, we suggested that cyclists should share some of the blame for ‘dooring’ incidents. The law states that this is incorrect.
In every ‘dooring’ incident it is the fault of the person opening the door for not exercising due care.
We were, however, trying to make the general point that both motorists and cyclists need more education about road safety.
A correction was also posted on the News Corrections and Clarifications webpage at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/corrections/ .
In view of the steps taken by ABC News to correct the error, Audience & Consumer Affairs consider this matter to be resolved.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and please be assured your comments have been brought to the attention of ABC News Management. For your reference, the ABC Code of Practice is available here:
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documen ... ce2011.pdf. Should you be dissatisfied with this response, you may be able to pursue your complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (
http://www.acma.gov.au).
Yours sincerely
Lauren Crozier
ABC Audience & Consumer Affairs