ABC presenter rebuked for ′bloody-minded′ query

A SENIOR ABC radio commentator has been counselled for "inappropriate" comments after asking a guest whether the Howard Government had been bloody-minded in its treatment of terrorism detainee David Hicks.

The summertime presenter of the ABC Radio National′s breakfast program, Stephen Crittenden, has been told he made serious editorial lapses during an interview with Hicks′s US military lawyer, Major Michael Mori, last month.

ABC managing director Russell Balding has revealed the counselling in a letter written to the office of Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who had complained about the item.

But Mr Balding rejected allegations in the complaint that the incident reveals bias at the ABC.

In the interview, Crittenden asked the leading question that "if David Hicks is released, will it in fact be a very dramatic illustration that the only reason he′s been in Guantanamo Bay over these past four years is because of the bloody-mindedness of the Australian Government?"

Major Mori said he could not comment on the question.

Shortly after, Crittenden said that he spoke for many Australians in praising the way Major Mori had handled the case, particularly "your generosity with your time and your strong ethical sense", which had "earned the respect of many Australians".

In his letter to Mr Downer′s media adviser Chris Kenny, Mr Balding, who announced on Friday his resignation effective in March, said the use of the term "bloody-mindedness" was inappropriate.

"While the ABC believes that it was reasonable to ask Major Mori about the role of the Australian Government, the phrasing of this question lacked the necessary impartiality".

Mr Balding said the ABC also believed the congratulatory remarks at the end of the interview were also inappropriate.

He said management of Radio National had been made aware of the breaches and Crittenden had "been made aware of the seriousness of the editorial lapses".

"The ABC does not agree that this example is indicative of, as you suggest, systematic bias within the corporation," he said.

"This was an unacceptable lapse and does not represent the standard of report or interviewing on the ABC."

Mr Downer appeared on the program two days after the offending interview.