These figures are significantly down on comparable figures in 1996 and 1993. In the heightened atmosphere of an election, politicians, party apparatchiks and journalists do make mistakes. The ABC has made its mistakes. But it is one thing to complain about particular mistakes and another to launch a campaign. What the ABC has experienced is a campaign.
Any campaign has a slogan.
This campaign slogan is 'The ABC is biased' . It is a slogan repeated in public statements, in letters received from politicians, their advisers and supporters. I could even say, with a nod to Bob Hughes, that there is a culture of opposition to the ABC in some quarters. As I've said many times there is a natural tension between the ABC and the government of the day. Those complaining, in the main, are participants in the political process.