Malcolm Turnbull has admitted that he complained directly to ABC management about the broadcaster’s coverage of the national broadband network, but said he made the same criticisms publicly as he did privately.

Turnbull held the communications portfolio in opposition and in government before becoming prime minister in September.

Under interrogation by Labor during question time on Thursday, Turnbull admitted that he had approached ABC management about the negative coverage the Coalition’s broadband policy was receiving.

“I have, on several occasions, complained very publicly and openly about the ABC’s coverage about the NBN issue, in particular and most notably in the lead up to the last election where I felt the ABC’s coverage of the issue was very poor and lacked balance,” he told the House of Representatives. “I‘ve said exactly the same things privately as I’ve said publicly.”

“I certainly did complain and felt that their coverage could have been more comprehensive,” Turnbull said.

But the prime minister dismissed claims that anything “untoward” had occurred in having the discussions with ABC management.

“The ABC’s coverage is entitled to be as subject to criticism as the people on whom it seeks to report,” he said.



Leader of the House, Christopher Pyne, attempted to stop Labor’s line of questioning, saying it was a “fishing expedition”.

“There has been absolutely no suggestion whatsoever that any actions have been taken by the prime minister, either as prime minister or as minister for communications,” he said. “Question time is not an expedition in fishing. It’s not a fishing exercise.”

“If the opposition has any evidence to put to the House, that is a different matter, but they simply can’t raise matters on the never-never and expect an answer. It is not within standing orders,” Pyne said.

Labor questioned whether Turnbull had applied undue influence on the publicly-funded broadcaster’s reporting of the NBN, after former ABC staff member Nick Ross accused management of gagging his coverage of the infrastructure plan.

Ross claimed that he was told by his bosses in 2013 that the Coalition was expected to win the next election so he should not do anything that would jeopardise Turnbull’s relationship with the ABC.

However, Ross had been accused of engaging in advocacy on behalf of the NBN in his reporting by the ABC’s Media Watch program, a claim he denied.

The Coalition said it could roll out the NBN more quickly and cheaply than Labor by introducing mixed technology such as copper and cable television wires.

In August, Turnbull announced a $15bn cost blowout in delivering the Coalition’s scheme, saying that figures left by NBN Co when Labor left office were “completely inadequate”.