The Council, as an independent body, takes seriously its responsibilities in upholding high standards in the Australian news media and investigating complaints alleging breaches of our principles. Australians deserve to have confidence and trust in the news media, and the Council’s processes are a vital means of building and protecting that trust.

Our recent investigation into a complaint against The Australian was an example of that process working and working well, and we stand by the findings we have made.

We note that The Australian published our findings as it is required to do, and we urge everyone to read them in full. We also note that, as a publisher member of the Council, The Australian has today confirmed that it continues to support and fund the work of the Council despite disagreeing with this decision. We welcome that confirmation.

Our findings were not the result of a legal process, let alone a court, ‘kangaroo’ or otherwise. Our findings resulted from a thorough and careful examination of the stories complained about and the identification of clear areas where the Council’s principles had been breached. All parties had ample opportunity to put their case, and all views were carefully considered.

The Council’s many publisher members, large and small (there are hundreds) accept that they do not get involved in investigating the public’s complaints against them, and sometimes they will come up against decisions they strongly disagree with. That is one of the great strengths of a process that is designed to serve the public and its right to know.