Tatts shares

7pm TV News

On March 2, during the finance report, the ABC reported that the Tatts Group shares value had dropped 7 per cent. In fact, although the share price dropped 18 cents, 10 cents of this was dividend.

Enriched uranium

The Midday Report

On February 8, in a story about Iran’s nuclear program, the ABC reported that the President had “ordered the production of uranium enriched to 20 per cent - five times what's needed for peaceful purposes”. In fact, 20 per cent enriched uranium is necessary for medical radioisotopes, which is of course for peaceful purposes. The story was compiled from news agency copy.

Employment figures

7PM TV News

On February 11, in a story about January employment figures, the ABC reported that “52,700 new jobs were created, more than a third of them full-time”. In fact, just less than one-third were full time.

Massachusetts seat

ABC2 News Breakfast

On January 21, when focussing on the result of the elections for the US Senate seat of Massachusetts, the ABC spoke to a three-member Democrat panel. Although the US Ambassador to Australia was interviewed on the program that day and a spokesperson for the Lowy Institute the day before, the program did not canvass a principal Republican viewpoint.

Exchange rates

7pm ABC TV News

On March 5, the ABC reported that the exchange rate between the pound sterling and Australian dollar was the strongest it had been in 40 years, at 60 pence to the dollar. In fact, the dollar reached 70 pence in December 1984, 26 years ago.

Thailand leader

7pm TV News, NSW

On February 26, in a story about the trial of former Thailand Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, the ABC incorrectly reported that he was the former Head of State. The King of Thailand is the Head Of State, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

NSW Floods

News Online, 7pm ABC TV News, NSW

Between December 31, 2009, and January 2, 2010, in stories about flooding in NSW, the ABC incorrectly reported that the towns Brewarrina and Narrabri were "north of Bourke". The original mistake was a subediting error in that two sentences were combined and it should have read "... as well as towns north of Bourke". Also the below online story reported that the main access roads to Narrabri were "still closed by floodwaters". In fact, only some of the roads in the Narrabri district had been closed.

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Ipswich Motorway

7pm TV News, Queensland

On November 29, in a story about the opening of an upgraded section of the Ipswich Motorway, the ABC incorrectly reported that the Howard Government believed the upgrade for the Ipswich / Logan Motorway interchange to be “impossible”, and instead proposed a bypass. Also, the story should have included the fact that funding for the Ipswich Motorway upgrade was originally announced by the Howard government.

Foil insulation

7pm TV News, Lateline

On February 10, in stories about the suspension of the use of foil insulation in the Federal Government’s insulation program, the ABC was not specific enough about the exact causes of death. Specifically, three men had died since the program commenced as a result of electrocution: two from installers stapling through foil insulation and a third contacted an existing electrical fault in the ceiling. A fourth man died from heat exhaustion.

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National Service

7pm TV News

On February 14, in a story about Australians who had served National Service in the armed forces, the ABC incorrectly reported that both men and women were called up. In fact only men were conscripted into National Service.

Obama comments

7pm TV News

On January 11, in a story about damaging comments made by US Senator Harry Reid about President Obama prior to Mr Obama’s election, a graphic in the story recorded one of the quotes saying Mr Obama “.. had no Negro dialect.” The punctuation is incorrect as the original sentence continued beyond that point. It should have read “.. had no Negro dialect..”. The complete quote read “.. had no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”