The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) has rejected a complaint about Peter Cave’s report of whether a massacre had occurred at the Jenin refugee camp, which was broadcast on Correspondents’ Report on 4 August 2002.

Following the broadcast of this report, the ABC had received more than 60 written complaints, claiming that the report was inaccurate and biased against Israel.

These complaints were investigated by ABC Audience & Consumer Affairs and were not upheld. Some complainants were dissatisfied with this outcome and their complaints were subsequently reviewed by the ABC’s Complaints Review Executive. This review found Peter Cave’s report to be accurate, fair and balanced.

One complainant remained dissatisfied and referred the matter to the ABA for independent review. The ABA is a federal statutory authority and is able to investigate complaints that the ABC has breached its Code of Practice.

The ABA investigated Peter Cave’s report and concluded that it complied with the requirements for accuracy and balance, as set out in the ABC’s Code of Practice. The ABC welcomes these findings and is pleased that this matter has finally been brought to a conclusion.

inside the abc may 2004