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Stuff
September 11, 2003
Brian Edwards under attack again for political links
NZPA
Dunedin author Lynley Hood, who is campaigning for a
royal commission into the Christchurch Civic Creche case, has complained to
TVNZ about Brian Edwards "ambushing" her in a hostile interview.
In a formal complaint to TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser, Hood claims Edwards'
political affiliations had prejudiced his view of the sex abuse case against
former creche worker Peter Ellis.
She says Edwards breached broadcasting standards on balance, impartiality and
fairness.
"In summary, my complaint is that I was ambushed into taking part in an
interview that was no more than a sustained attack on my character and
credibility, and that in making that attack Dr Edwards did not act as an
independent and impartial broadcaster," she says.
Hood said she learnt that Justice Minister Phil Goff, who had taken a strong
political stance against her book A City Possessed, had made negative
comments to Edwards about the creche case and these comments had prejudiced
his view.
"Evidence that Edwards was subject to political influence on the topic
of his interview with me may not fall strictly within the ambit of a BSA
(Broadcasting Standards Authority) complaint," she says.
"However, when the manifestly unfair and unbalanced interview is
considered in the light of Edwards' role as paid media adviser to the prime
minister and her ministers... it adds weight to the widespread concern that,
because of his close connections with government, Edwards is not, and cannot
be, an independent and impartial broadcaster."
She claims Edwards had e-mailed her in June to say he would sign the petition
calling for a royal commission and that he was interested in having her on
his TV talk show.
He led her to believe that the August 16 interview would be sympathetic but
it turned out to be a "hatchet job".
Last month ACT MP Rodney Hide laid a broadcasting standards complaint over an
interview Edwards had with him - saying an interviewer on the Prime
Minister's payroll could not be balanced and impartial to an opposition MP.
TVNZ spokeswoman Di Schnauer said today that statutory obligations prevented
either Fraser or Edwards commenting publicly on Hood's formal complaint at
this stage.
The complaint would be considered by TVNZ's formal complaints committee where
it was treated confidentially, she told NZPA.
Even its findings could not be made public unless the complainant agreed. If
complainants were not satisfied with the findings they could go to the BSA.
A spokesman for Mr Goff, who is visiting Mongolia, said today that Hood's
references to the minister were wrong.
Mr Goff had already responded to a written parliamentary question from
National MP Don Brash that his only meeting with Edwards was "by chance
at Auckland Airport" as they walked together to collect their luggage on
August 21 (five days after Hood's TV interview).
Mr Goff said he recalled Edwards mentioning the creche case and saying, after
reading Hood's book a second time, he had reservations about her conclusions.
"My comments were to the effect that matters of guilt or innocence
should be decided judicially, not by politicians, journalists or
authors," Mr Goff said.
"I also reiterated my view that because no evidence had been presented
that had not already been properly considered by the court, I had no basis
under the royal prerogative process to recommend further inquiry into the
case."
Mr Goff's spokesman said the minister had not taken a strong political stance
against Hood's book but had remained "determinedly neutral".
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