INDEPENDENT NEWS

Nicky Hager Responds To BSA Decision

Published: Fri 4 Jul 2003 01:47 PM
News release 4 July 2003
Nicky Hager responds to BSA decision
Researcher and writer Nicky Hager says he feels vindicated by today's Broadcasting Standards Authority decision on the GM corn issue, which failed - despite the concerted efforts of the Government and pro-GM lobby - to find a single inaccuracy in his book Seeds of Distrust.
"I am very pleased that the two main allegations in the BSA complaints - about the so-called ambush interview and the accuracy of the story - have not been upheld", he said.
"What is left is a very political decision. While not upholding the main complaints, it appears that the BSA members did not have the courage to dismiss completely a complaint from the Prime Minister. Thus the decision against TV3, but only on small, peripheral issues."
"I am sure that if this case had been Paul Holmes challenging some un-powerful member of the public, the BSA would not have looked twice at it."
"It is fitting that the BSA delayed its announcement of the decision until a Friday afternoon just before a Parliamentary recess, the traditional time for less-than-enthusiastic announcements."
"With this diversion out of the way, the Government should finally be open with the public about its corn decisions in December 2000."
ENDS

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