The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) managing director, Hugh Marks, has sharply criticized the national broadcasting regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma), following its finding that a 2025 Four Corners investigation breached impartiality rules. The dispute centers on an episode examining the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial.

Acma announced on Thursday that while the Four Corners program titled "Sacrifice" was accurate, it failed to meet the public broadcaster’s obligations to impartiality. According to the regulator, the episode presented an unduly critical view of the memorial’s redevelopment and employed strong, emotive language that might have misled viewers. The investigation noted the coverage did not sufficiently explain an Australian National Audit Office report and conflated different stages of the consultation process, potentially confusing the audience about the accuracy of claims made by the memorial’s director.

Acma chair Nerida O’Loughlin emphasized the importance of investigative journalism but stressed that contentious topics must be presented with due impartiality and adequate context. O’Loughlin expressed disappointment over the ABC’s response, noting that the broadcaster chose not to accept the findings or propose any remedial action. She indicated that, while Acma cannot compel the ABC to act, the regulator is considering possible formal responses.

In a statement, Marks argued that the regulator’s interpretation of impartiality could impose unreasonable constraints on investigative journalism, potentially forcing news organizations to provide “false balance” and deterring the reporting of significant public interest issues. He affirmed the ABC’s respect for Acma’s role but accused the regulator of failing to appreciate the critical function of journalism in holding public authorities accountable. The ABC also defended the integrity of its reporter and the production team, asserting they made considerable efforts to ensure impartiality.

The Australian War Memorial initially raised concerns with the ABC, but after the broadcaster’s independent ombudsman dismissed the complaint, the memorial’s council chair, Kim Beazley, lodged a formal complaint with Acma. Beazley supported the regulator’s findings and called for the Four Corners episode to be removed from all ABC platforms to prevent perceived damage to the memorial’s reputation.

This is the second time this year that Acma has found the ABC in breach of its code of practice. Earlier in 2025, Acma ruled that another Four Corners episode, "Water Grab," failed in meeting accuracy and impartiality standards. At that time, O’Loughlin criticized the broadcaster for insufficiently verifying facts before airing. The ABC accepted that some assertions in "Water Grab" should have been qualified but denied inaccuracies.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the public broadcaster and its regulator over standards of impartiality and investigative reporting in Australia’s media landscape.