B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Federal Election
  • Pinterest
  • AFL
  • WPP
  • Anthony Albanese
  • AI
  • NRL
  • Thinkerbell
  • Channel 10
  • EssenceMediaCom
  • State of Origin
  • News Corp
  • Cairns Hatchlings
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: Federal Govt Issues A “Please Explain” To The ABC Over Sam Dastyari “Infomercial”
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Media > Federal Govt Issues A “Please Explain” To The ABC Over Sam Dastyari “Infomercial”
Media

Federal Govt Issues A “Please Explain” To The ABC Over Sam Dastyari “Infomercial”

Staff Writers
Published on: 11th August 2017 at 11:11 AM
Staff Writers
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

The federal government has taken note of the criticism surrounding the ABC’s recent Australian Story episode featuring Labor MP Sam Dastyari, ordering the broadcaster to explain why it decided to run it.

Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi, Labor MP Michael Danby, Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson, government minister Zed Seselja, and Liberal backbencher James Paterson all accused the ABC of using Australian Story to plug Dastyari’s new book about his Iranian heritage, titled One Halal of a Story.

The politicians described it as a “puff piece”, “propaganda”, and an “infomercial”, and called on the ABC to – as Pauline Hanson would say – “please explain”.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has since acted on the wishes of the politicians, writing to ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie demanding an explanation, according to The Australian.

“With respect to Australian Story, questions have been raised about the timing of the episode given the recent release of Senator Dastyari’s book. I ask that you provide an explanation of the editorial decisions associated with the airing of the episode and whether, and how, the ABC factored in the recent release of a book by Senator Dastyari,” Senator Fifield wrote in the letter.

Fifield has also issued a ‘please explain’ to Guthrie for a Media Watch episode from three weeks prior, which also featured Dastyari’s views on the senate inquiry into the Future of Public Interest Journalism, The Australian reported.

“The combination of these two programs within weeks of each other prompts me to seek further details about the background to them,” Fifield wrote.

“It is important for the ABC not to be seen to be favouring any individual in terms of its programming.”

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: Advertising Standards Bureau, Australian Story, Modern Family, RadiumOne, Sam Dastyari
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

Seven West Media’s Sales Boss Henry Tajer To Step Down
16/06/2025
ID Collective Opens Business With Blunt By Adding The Umbrella Brand To Its Agency Portfolio
16/06/2025
Criteo Reveals ‘For The Love Of Commerce’, “To Shape & Improve The AI-Driven Commerce Experience”
16/06/2025
Inside Selena Gomez’s Purpose-Driven Beauty Empire: Rare Beauty CPO Goes Beyond Gloss At Vogue Codes
16/06/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?