THE ABC's Media Watch program last night declared the national broadcaster "overreached'' on its reporting of claims that asylum seekers were tortured by Australian navy personnel - and that wasn't the only surprise for ABC viewers.

Host Paul Barry sparked a flurry of surprised, outraged and upset responses on Twitter after telling viewers that he'd voted Liberal in last year's federal election.

The admission came as Barry responded to a description of the ABC as a "Greens-Left activist complex".

@JennaPrice @JB_AU Secret ballot, but would I lie? Malcolm Turnbull is my MP. Paul Barry (@TheRealPBarry) February 3, 2014

media_camera Paul Barry confirms: 'I voted Liberal'

"OK, it's a fair cop. I admit the crime," Barry said. "I only voted Liberal at the last election as a cover."

Then followed a Twitter deluge from ABC fans and others, most of them unimpressed at Barry's democratic decision.

Fairfax Media columnist Jenna Price tweeted: "my twitter feed has just exploded with people who want to know if you really voted Liberal?"

The Media Watch host soon took to Twitter himself to answer the accusations and to confirm that he had, in fact, voted Liberal. "Secret ballot, but would I lie?" Barry wrote following Monday night's broadcast. "Malcolm Turnbull is my MP."

The Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week heavily criticised the ABC for acting against Australia's interests following its reporting of Australian spying on Indonesia and of claims asylum seekers may have been abused by navy personnel.

"It dismays Australians when the national broadcaster appears to take everyone's side but our own and I think it is a problem," the prime minister told Macquarie Radio.

"You would like the national broadcaster to have a rigorous commitment to truth and at least some basic affection for the home team, so to speak."

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