Thread by @KKeneally

Who in the Turnbull Government interfered in the ABC’s political coverage yesterday, this time (again) on @InsidersABC , and its coverage of #reefgate?

On @InsidersABC on Sunday, @JoshFrydenberg repeatedly refused to detail what, if any, due diligence the Turnbull Government undertook on the private foundation it gave $444m of public money without a grant application or tender process:

https://twitter.com/insidersabc/status/1028421659890335744?s=21

After @JoshFrydenberg interview, @lenoretaylor raised a point on the show:‘This process is ridiculous. How can the Govt claim that it did due diligence on this foundation, when the foundation itself said it was surprised by the offer of $444m from @TurnbullMalcolm ‘

It was such a good observation that @insidersABC tweeted a video clip of @lenoretaylor making the point. And then, mysteriously, the tweet disappeared.

Today @InsidersABC clarified that because a ‘government spokesperson’ contacted the ABC in response to @lenoretaylor ‘s comment, and told them that the Govt had spoken to the @GBRFoundation in March to undertake ‘due diligence’, the ABC removed the tweet with Taylor’s statement🤔

This morning @GBRFoundation MD Anna Marsden told ABC Radio Brisbane that no one from the Government contacted her, or any one at the foundation, before 9 April, and she had no idea about any ‘due diligence’ being done on the foundation by the Turnbull Government before 9 April.

Marsden also told the Senate Inquiry on 30 July that there had been no discussions, ‘formal or informal, nothing’ from the Turnbull Government about the $444m grant before 9 April.

Marsden also told the ABC 730 that the $444m grant was a ‘complete surprise’ to the private foundation. As reported by @guardian: theguardian.com/environment/20…

Never before has anyone in Government - at Estimates, in Senate Hearings, or in media interviews - said that they worked with the @GBRFoundation on due diligence for the $444m grant in March.

The Government Spokesperson’s statement to @insidersABC that it carried out due diligence with the private foundation in March is directly contradicted by Anna Marsden from @GBRFoundation - and is not supported by any evidence on the record.

Today in #qt in the Senate - I asked @MathiasCormann if he could confirm to the Senate that the @GBRFoundation was contacted by the Government for due diligence prior to the 9th of April. He refused to do so, and said he would get back to the Senate.

Today in #qt in the House of Reps - @Tony_Burke asked @JoshFrydenberg to outline the ‘due diligence’ the Turnbull Govt carried out on this private foundation. Josh confirmed that the foundation was first approached on 9 April.

There is not one shred of evidence anywhere that anyone in the Turnbull Government spoke to the @GBRFoundation before 9 April. So @lenoretaylor ‘s observation was valid.

Surely now @insidersABC will reinstate the tweet of @lenoretaylor ‘s comment from Sunday’s show.

So who in Govt contacted @insidersABC to insist that they take down the tweet of @lenoretaylor ? Who gave the ABC information that there had been due diligence with the @GBRFoundation in March? Was it @turnbullmalcolm or his office? Was it @SenatorFifield or @JoshFrydenberg ?

When will @TurnbullMalcolm and his ministers learn that, in a democracy, they can’t shut down criticism offered on the ABC just because they don’t like it?

And @barriecassidy answers my question: the complaint came from the PMO.

The PMO, for goodness sakes.