Senator BERNARDI (6:54 PM) —Following the very inventive approaches to discussing this document that both Senator Farrell and Senator Cameron have announced, I would like to briefly discuss the ABC for a moment. Before I get specifically to the content of the ABC report, I would like to address some of the content that has been provided not by the A team of the Labor Party, not by the B team of the Labor Party and not by the C team of the Labor Party but by the Z team of the Labor Party. If it is anything, it is the Z team because they have put out the most vile propaganda. I am not sure whether Senator Cameron was actually auditioning for a role on the ABC, perhaps on the Scottish language news or something like that, or for a role in the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Perhaps he was playing up to Senator Mark Arbib maybe to get a factional deal when they roll Kevin Rudd and install Julia Gillard.

Senator Arbib —Mr Acting Deputy President, I rise on a point of order. It would be good if Senator Bernardi could actually make some references to the report that he is speaking on. So far I do not think he has made one reference to it.

Senator Joyce —Mr Acting Deputy President—

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Senator Ryan)—I am happy to rule on the point of order, Senator Joyce. Senator Arbib, I believe you were here for a previous contribution where some wide latitude was given in respect of mentioning the ABC and discussion of this report. Senator Bernardi, continue and, as I have reminded other speakers, I remind you of the report to which you are speaking.

Senator BERNARDI —Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President. I am coming to the nub of what this report is, and Senator Fierravanti-Wells summed it up when she said it is about the charter for the ABC. I can understand why those on the other side champion the ABC, because more often than not their perspective is portrayed in a favourable light. But we have seen those rare occasions on the ABC where they have investigated some of the haplessness and failings of the Labor Party. Senator Farrell claimed that because he saw it on TV it is relevant to this report, but I will not go down that grubby path. But I would like to raise a couple of truly serious issues. Firstly, I would like to know why the ABC pulled the only documentary that provided an insight into the Rudd Labor government. Why is The Hollow Men no longer on television? This is absolutely important. Perhaps, just perhaps, one of the powerbrokers, Senator Arbib or maybe Senator Cameron, did not like the caricatures of themselves given how they saw themselves in operation. Perhaps that was the case. I do not know how much influence they have there, but I know that, as they plot against Mr Rudd, in order to install Julia Gillard as the Prime Minister, they are desperately scrambling for chairs as it all falls apart around them. In the 2½ minutes that I have left, I would like to raise two further issues about the requirement for balanced, fair and unbiased presentations. I quite like the ABC and I watch it quite a lot.

Senator Bilyk interjecting—

Senator BERNARDI —There is another intellectual interjection from the other side! It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. I would like to address two particular shows. One is Insiders, which I enjoy on Sunday mornings. It is meant to be fair and balanced. What I find slightly annoying about it is that of the three commentators that sit there, being normally journalists in the chairs, two are always left leaning—and that has been admitted—and one is deemed to be from the fair and balanced and moderate side of the political debate. Why are there always two left-leaning journalists and one moderate, fair and balanced person? I think that is a legitimate question that needs to be asked. A similar question could be asked about Q&A, which is another show that I enjoy on occasions, if only to see the hysterical claims of some of the more extreme members of the left commentariat. But, once again, there is always a preponderance of people on the panel who, it could be quite legitimately claimed, are of a left-leaning persuasion. When you have got three and sometimes 3½—

Senator Fierravanti-Wells —Or four.

Senator BERNARDI —or, perhaps, four people that have a perspective that is more Labor orientated or left orientated, rather than having on the other side those of a fair and balanced persuasion, I think it calls into question exactly what is unbiased, what is fair and what is balanced. There has to be a modicum of sense in this. You do not want equal time on every issue because you are not going to have that sort of consensus, but there should not be repeated abuse and failure in this. I am concerned about it.  (Time expired)

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT —Order! The time allowed for consideration of government documents has now expired.