Back in the 1970s an ABC broadcaster outlined what he called "the theory of the pre-emptive buckle". This theory, which sought to explain the strange behavior of some ABC managers went like this. After years of punishment ABC managers have developed a keenly honed sense of when the government is about to clobber them. Their instinct for self preservation asserts itself and they practice the fine art of falling in a heap before they are attacked, thus minimizing injury.

Does this explain the strange behavior of Robyn Watt, the ABC's Director of Enterprises, who had decided to give politicians the right to veto the sale of ABC news footage of themselves making political statements.

Watts said that this was because the ABC was concerned that the recordings of statements by politicians might be used for political purposes!

It verges on tautology to say that when politicians make statements they usually do so for political purposes. Moreover when people quote those politicians, whether those doing the quoting are supporters or opponents, they also frequently do so for political purposes.

The ABC's Managing Director, Russell Balding, supported Watt's action when he wrote:

The overarching consideration in this instance was to protect the integrity of the ABC and its reputation as an impartial and independent public broadcaster... I do not think it is appropriate for the ABC to officially license its content so that it may be used politically.

Is he saying that it is the ABC's job to protect politicians from political debate? Or was he thinking about the way that Michael Moore used footage of a seemingly bemused George Bush sitting reading a children's book after have been told of the September 11 attack?

It is true that journalists and film makers can quote people out of context. News footage can be used unfairly. Opinions differ, for example, about the way Michael Moore used news footage in his documentary Farenheit 9/11.

There may well be occasions when third parties misuse archival footage, but that does not justify the ABC helping politicians to erase or muddy the public record. The role of the fourth estate is to hold the powerful - politicians, business leaders, union leaders - up to scrutiny. The ABC should foster political debate, not squash it.

Darce Cassidy