Chaser skit deeply offensive

05-June-2009

The episode of The Chaser aired on Wednesday 3 June which featured a segment depicting terminally ill children was deeply offensive and hurtful to many Australians.

 Taxpayers have every right to expect that funding to the ABC is used to air content that is diverse and of a high standard and mostly the ABC meets those expectations.

 Wednesday’s episode was an unacceptable departure from those standards which the community expects of the ABC.

 In the past the ABC has indicated that it has approved Chaser content in advance of it going to air and I would ask what due diligence was applied in advance of this episode, because surely this particular segment should have raised concern.

 I am concerned by the impact that this episode has had on local people, particularly those who are suffering with a terminal illness or who have recently lost loved ones.

 The decision to air this segment shows an appalling error of judgement, one that I hope will not be repeated.