Royal Commission must shine a spotlight on the Arts and public broadcasters

Joint media release

Shadow Attorney-General, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Communications and Digital Safety, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson
Shadow Minister for Arts, Angie Bell MP

The Coalition has made representations to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that it establish a dedicated block of hearings into Australia’s arts institutions and public broadcasters, including the ABC and Creative Australia.

Publicly funded cultural institutions do not operate outside the national conversation. They shape public debate, influence cultural norms and carry significant responsibilities to foster social cohesion and combat hatred in all its forms.

Recent events have raised serious questions about whether some institutions have responded with sufficient urgency, consistency and transparency to rising antisemitism.

The ABC has faced sustained criticism and public concern over aspects of its Middle East coverage, complaints handling processes and broader editorial approach, including evidence and submissions now before the Royal Commission alleging that its coverage has contributed to social division and diminished confidence among sections of the Jewish community.

The ABC and SBS have also declined to adopt the Special Envoy’s IHRA antisemitism definition and the approach adopted by the Royal Commission itself, arguing that existing editorial standards are sufficient. That decision has intensified public debate about whether publicly funded broadcasters are meeting community expectations in confronting antisemitism.

Creative Australia should also be examined. The Arts sector has become a flashpoint for division and controversy, raising broader questions about whether publicly funded bodies have clear and consistent frameworks to identify, respond to and prevent antisemitism while maintaining artistic freedom.

While there will be hearings dedicated to the role of universities and social media in promulgating antisemitism, arts and public broadcasting institutions also require close scrutiny. The Antisemitism Envoy has proposed that public funding for cultural organisations be terminated where they facilitate antisemitism.

This proposed hearing block should examine governance settings, complaints processes, funding decisions, editorial standards, cultural leadership and whether publicly funded institutions have appropriate safeguards to identify and address antisemitism.

Australians are entitled to expect that institutions funded by taxpayers uphold the highest standards of fairness, accountability, and social cohesion. The Royal Commission should follow the evidence wherever it leads.