28 September 2022
Senator Claire Chandler
Liberal Senator for Tasmania
Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 250
Richmond TAS 7025
Dear Senator Chandler
Thank you for your letter concerning the ABC article of 27 April 2022 ‘Trans women’s
participation in sport has been framed as an election issue. This is what some trans athletes
think’.
As you note the editorial complaints unit - Audience and Consumer Affairs - which sits
outside content divisions at the ABC, conducted a thorough investigation of the story and
found two breaches of editorial standards. A&CA determined that the story breached
accuracy requirements by failing to provide an adequate overview of the available science,
including recent research indicating that trans women may retain some physical advantages.
The unit also breached the article for unduly favouring the views of Associate Professor Ada
Cheung. These are indeed serious editorial lapses and have been treated as such by the
ABC Sport team and those journalists responsible for producing the story. There has been a
thorough debrief with all involved. The article has been amended to include reference to
relevant research from the US Air Force and transgender inclusion guidelines by sport
governing bodies. An editor’s note has been published, along with a summary of the
complaint outcome, and the matter will be reported to the ABC Board in the normal way at its
next meeting. Audience and Consumer Affairs was satisfied that these necessary changes
addressed the shortcomings of the original article. No further complaints have been received
about the story.
On your other questions - it is important to note that editorial standards do not require equal
treatment or equal time in every story, or that all perspectives are presented in every story.
Impartiality standards require the ABC to ‘Present a diversity of perspectives so that, over
time, no significant strand of thought or belief within the community is knowingly excluded or
disproportionately represented.”
The ABC has covered this complex issue on television, radio and online, including the story
of NZ weightlifter Laurel Hubbard and other trans athletes at the Tokyo Games, with
additional viewpoints from Olympians Tamsyn Manou and Jane Fleming.
When Cricket Australia released guidelines for the inclusion of transgender players the ABC
interviewed Australia cricket captain Alex Blackwell and trans cricketer Erica James.
Journalist Tracey Holmes reported the debate over FINA’s transgender policy, sparked by
the performance of trans athlete Lia Thomas, including the comments of Australian
swimming champion Cate Campbell who called for fairness in elite sport.
The Q&A program also recently featured a segment on the debate over transgender athletes.
After several elite female athletes declined invitations to participate, dual Olympian Deborah
Lovely-Acason approached the program and was included in the discussion.
You ask about ABC affiliations and the framing of the article. The ABC participates in the
Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) which forms part of the ACON Health Limited
(ACON) – Pride Inclusion Program. The AWEI is a national employee benchmarking index
with 186 employers across all sectors participating in the index in 2021. The AWEI is
designed to measure the impact of LGBTQ inclusion initiatives in organisations and is used
by the ABC to monitor its progress and help improve inclusive workplace practices.
The ABC also participates in other benchmarking indexes to monitor its progress and
improve workplace practices, such as the Diversity Council of Australia, Reconciliation
Australia and the Australian Network on Disability. The ABC is committed to improving its
inclusive workplace practices but decisions relating to employment and participation in
benchmarking indexes are taken by corporate management not content making teams. They
have no bearing on editorial processes.
In conclusion, the editorial lapses in the original story are certainly regrettable. The ABC is
committed to ensuring its reporting is based on credible research, talking to people with lived
experience, peak bodies, qualified experts and taking an evidence based approach.
Transgender and gender identity issues are complex and require careful editorial judgement
to ensure informed reporting without causing offence or undue distress and harm to
vulnerable individuals and communities.
I share your disappointment that the original article didn’t meet our editorial standards and I
have shared your letter with the ABC Editorial Director.
Sincerely
Ita Buttrose AC, OBE
Chair
