Adjudication No. 1438  (adjudicated September 2009)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint relating to an article in the Frankston/Hastings Independent (March 31, 2009) entitled Caribou flies into storm of controversy.

The complainants, David and Katrina Chalke, objected to a specific statement in the article and complained that it lacked balance and neglected facts.

The article related to the visit by two RAAF Caribou aircraft to Tyabb airfield on the Mornington Peninsula. The article stated that complaints to various authorities had been made following the visit, alleging that the weight of the aircraft exceeded the maximum limits allowed under the planning permit for the airfield. The article went on to state that no airstrip damage had been found after the visit but an investigation was being conducted by the Mornington Shire Council (the permit authority). The article observed that CASA was the recipient of regular complaints about movements at the airfield from members of the ratepayers association.

The Chalkes sought a correction from the Independent contradicting a statement attributed to the president of the Peninsula Aero Club (PAC) that a Fly Neighbourly Agreement had been in place for a year at the airfield. The complainants also asked the editor why the views of Tyabb residents or members of the ratepayers' group had not been sought for the piece. They described the article as "lazy and partisan" journalism.

The newspaper rejected the Chalkes' complaints. The Independent asserted that the article was fair, balanced and factual, and had outlined the concerns held by some residents.

The paper acknowledged, however, that a formal Fly Neighbourly Agreement signed by PAC did not exist at the airfield but added that pilots using the facility were asked to follow Fly Neighbourly advice.

The paper subsequently acknowledged that the editor had been remiss in not responding to the Chalkes' letter.

The Tyabb airfield is a significant regional facility, the scene of on-going economic and social activities. The PAC has an apparent high level of community involvement which generates hard news and human interest stories for the local paper. Noise, "extreme low flying" and safety issues are, however, of concern to some people, including members of the ratepayers' association, the Tyabb and District Ratepayers Business and Environment Group.

In cases of long-standing community disputes assertions of bias, conflict of interest, hidden agendas and other allegations can become commonplace and sometimes personal in nature. In such situations a newspaper can be perceived by some to favour one side of the debate. Local newspapers are very much part of the community they serve.

Newspapers are free to adopt a stance on particular issues but care should be taken to offer balance and to allow a reasonable reader to distinguish fact from opinion.

For its part the Independent could have been more responsive to the complainants' letter in the first instance and sought further elaboration of the quotation attributed to the president of the aero club to clarify for readers the status of the Fly Neighbourly program.

Members of Council who represent publications complained against are excluded from any discussion of, or vote on, complaints against their publications.

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