Aussie entrepreneur Dick Smith is launching an attack on the ABC by way of a new advertising campaign to address what he claims is “basically treasonous” coverage in the debate around population growth in Australia.
In an interview with Fairfax Media, Smith claimed that politicians from both the Liberal and Labor parties agree with him that Australia’s immigration intake needs to be reduced to avoid future social and environmental fracturing.
However, Smith reckons these politicians aren’t game to go on record with this view out of fear that the ABC will label them racist.
“This is warping our democratic process. It is basically treasonous,” he told Fairfax.
Smith said the goal of the new campaign is to “take away the ABC’s credibility” on the issue, and plans to finance it through donations.
The controversial entrepreneur has already spent $1 million in recent times on an ad campaign to preach his policy proposal – a reduction of immigration numbers to approximately 70,000 in order for Australia’s population to level off at circa 30 million.
An ABC spokesperson said Smith’s claims involving ABC News are untrue and not supported by any evidence.
“The ABC has no position on the issue of population growth, has no ban on reporting on this subject, and has issued no decrees or any other type of instruction to staff about reporting on this issue,” the spokesperson told Fairfax.
“The ABC has frequently reported on Mr Smith’s views, including in long-form interviews, news stories and a documentary.”
