ABC probes international trip reportedly funded by German arms company

Australia's $10 billion warship program, a project that has attracted fierce international competition among global shipbuilders, is now at the centre of controversy involving the nation's public broadcaster.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is investigating a senior defence correspondent over allegations he travelled to Germany on a trip paid for by a major weapons manufacturer without disclosing the arrangement to the broadcaster or its audience.

The arms race for Australia's naval fleet

The Defence Minister Richard Marles' 2023 announcement of a massive naval shipbuilding program sparked intense interest among global defence contractors.

Spanish firm Navantia, Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have all aggressively campaigned for the contract to supply heavily armed corvettes, destroyers, and frigates for the Australian navy.

These companies have gone to great lengths, including hosting foreign journalists on lavish press junkets, to showcase their naval technology and pitch their bids.

The competitive atmosphere has seen media from across Australia and overseas covering the program extensively, often as guests on carefully orchestrated overseas trips funded by the bidding companies.

ABC's Andrew Greene

ABC's tangled coverage

Unlike commercial media, the ABC enforces strict rules that prohibit staff from accepting such hospitality, a policy intended to protect its reputation for impartiality.

Despite this, defence correspondent Andrew Greene is reported to have travelled to Japan and Germany last year, attending press events funded by foreign organisations and arms manufacturers. It is claimed that while his trip to Japan was financed by the privately funded Foreign Press Centre Japan, his recent visit to Germany was reportedly paid for by TKMS.

According to Media Watch, Greene did not inform ABC management of his German trip, which involved a business class flight and stays in premium hotels, estimated to cost around $16,000.

Furthermore, Greene did not disclose to the ABC audience that the arms company had funded his travel.

The ABC claims it was unaware of his whereabouts during the trip, with Greene reportedly submitting coverage from Germany while back in Canberra, claiming to have received information remotely.

ABC's Andrew Greene

Implications for trust and editorial integrity

After these details emerged, the ABC swiftly removed Greene's German coverage from its website and launched an internal investigation into the matter.

ABC spokesperson Sally Jackson emphasised the broadcaster's commitment to rigorous editorial standards and the importance of maintaining public trust, stating that any confirmed breach of policy would be "unacceptable and could constitute misconduct."

Jackson went on to add that the investigation was ongoing and reaffirmed the broadcaster's zero-tolerance stance on undisclosed conflicts of interest.

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