Royal Commission on Antisemitism examines ABC and SBS Israel-Gaza coverage complaints
Consensus Summary
The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion is examining complaints about ABC and SBS coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with a focus on perceived bias and balance. Jillian Segal, the antisemitism envoy, has called for an independent oversight committee to review the broadcasters' compliance with their charter obligations, arguing that current internal mechanisms are insufficient. Both the ABC and SBS have faced criticism for allegedly disproportionately emphasizing Gaza and giving voice to anti-Israel perspectives, though the broadcasters maintain their coverage is accurate and balanced. A specific controversy involved the ABC's misreporting of '14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours' in Gaza, which was later corrected to '14,000 babies would die in the next year'. The commission is also reviewing the effectiveness of the ABC ombudsman and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in addressing complaints, with Segal expressing frustration over ACMA's perceived lack of enforcement power.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Bondi beach terror attack on October 7, 2023, killed 15 people at a Hanukah event
- The ABC and SBS have received complaints about their Israel-Gaza coverage since October 7, 2023
- The ABC corrected a report that originally stated '14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours' in Gaza, later clarifying it should have been '14,000 babies would die in the next year'
- The ABC ombudsman has found five breaches of editorial standards related to Israel-Gaza coverage
- The royal commission hearings on antisemitism and social cohesion include testimony from Jillian Segal, the antisemitism envoy
- The ABC and SBS have submitted a 39-page written submission to the royal commission
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The ABC received 51% of complaints in July-December 2025 claiming its Israel-Gaza coverage was broadly pro-Palestinian and 47% claiming it was broadly pro-Israel
- Jillian Segal mentioned the Jewish community's frustration with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) as a media watchdog
- The ABC's correction for the '14,000 babies' claim was delayed and less prominent than the original story
- The royal commission is examining the adequacy of the broadcasters' complaint-handling mechanisms regarding allegations of bias in Middle East reporting
- The ABC's editorial director, Gavin Fang, will testify at the royal commission on Thursday
- The ABC and SBS have both chosen not to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which the royal commission is using
- The ABC released a statement rejecting claims that its journalism has contributed to antisemitism or social division
- The SBS emphasized in its submission that it represents Jewish Australian stories and perspectives in a way that is respectful, accurate, and inclusive
- The royal commission will hear from ACMA on Friday before moving to Melbourne next week to discuss antisemitism in the university sector
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the ABC's correction for the '14,000 babies' claim was delayed and less prominent, while the ABC's editorial director, Gavin Fang, acknowledged it as a 'bad mistake' but did not explicitly comment on the prominence of the correction
- The ABC states ACMA has not found any instances of the ABC or SBS breaching relevant code provisions since October 2023, while Jillian Segal rejects this, saying ACMA lacks enforcement power and is ineffective in addressing nuanced issues of balance and impartiality
Source Articles
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