The report of the Complaints Review Executive was thorough and detailed. Mark Day in The Australian 24July03 had this to say about it:

I cannot recall a more thorough quality review of journalistic output over a sustained period by any news-gathering operation. That the ABC comes through with flying colours is a testament to it, its news and current affairs division, program host Linda Mottram, and the dozen  or so correspondents who had their work tested.

When Alston put forward his complaints, I called it 'the greatest collection of nit-picking nonsense I can ever recall being served up by a minister in support of an argument.'

ABC managing director Russell Balding issued a statement saying that the report had vindicated AM and its staff. 'The ABC's war coverage was second to none and I stand firmly behind the ABC's programs.'