The source of conflict does not need to be external. We all have points of view. That is what makes writing interesting in the first place. Point of view can all too easily become bias. These are conflicts of interest that cannot be exposed by any declaration of personal interest.
Point of view can all too easily become bias.
There are two ways of dealing with the problems dealt with by the inquiry. One is to regulate. There are limits here. One also needs to ask whether declaration is enough. What the various codes of ethics and the inquiry are saying is that news gathering is a special activity which needs more than the defamation laws and the Trade Practices Act to regulate it.