The Australian government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not follow the proposal by the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, to abolish the ombudsmen of public broadcasters ABC and SBS and replace them with an external oversight body, The Guardian has learned.
In a list of updated priorities published last month, Segal proposed the appointment of an "external independent ombudsman" to oversee ABC and SBS reporting on the war in Gaza. She stated the aim was to ensure that publicly funded broadcasters are "accountable to their own declared standards of accuracy and impartiality". In her updated plan to combat antisemitism, Segal highlighted that many in the Jewish community remain fearful that reporting they perceive as one-sided may contribute to a negative, and even hostile, attitude among the public towards those who support Israel or hold sympathies for it. Segal believes the government should consider the "transfer" of responsibility from the ABC and SBS ombudsmen to an "external independent ombudsman, in line with other sectors such as telecommunications and banking".
ABC stated at the time that its complaints process is "the most robust and transparent in Australian media". Both broadcasters noted that they are subject to external oversight by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma). Government sources noted that Acma already acts as an external independent regulator that can investigate complaints if they need to be escalated beyond the ABC and SBS ombudsmen.
A spokesperson for Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells thanked Segal for her work on Wednesday. He stated that there is no place for antisemitism in Australia and that it is an evil that "tears at the fabric of our country ... [and] puts at risk the peaceful, free and equal society we value". The Labor party may consider changes in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism, which is due to report in mid-December. The commission is chaired by former High Court judge Virginia Bell and was established following the antisemitic massacre at Bondi Beach in December 2025. Anika Wells' spokesperson said on Wednesday that the government will soon receive the final report of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion and will continue to work with the special envoy, the Jewish community and all Australians to combat antisemitism and strengthen social cohesion.
Segal's latest proposal regarding ABC and SBS met with divided reactions two weeks ago. Alex Ryvchin, co-executive director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, welcomed her proposals while warning that meaningful oversight of public broadcaster reporting can only be achieved "through external accountability". The Progressive Jewish Council of Australia described the envoy's new plan as "Trumpian", asserting that it threatens freedom of speech and democratic rights. The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network criticised efforts to equate legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism, stating: "Publicly opposing Israel's current crimes is the right of anyone who believes in human dignity and human rights."
In October, Segal wrote that "the independence of public broadcasters must, of course, be protected", but that it "does not – and should not – mean a right to freedom from external oversight and empirical scrutiny". She added that ensuring processes withstand fair scrutiny can only increase trust. The ABC ombudsman had previously investigated public complaints related to Middle East and Gaza war reporting, including the visit of the Israeli President to Australia and a speech by the Israeli ambassador at the press club.
The ABC Alumni Association, which represents hundreds of former employees, stated that since October 2023, the ABC ombudsman has accepted four out of a thousand complaints regarding bias or inaccuracy in Middle East reporting, while Acma, "to which dissatisfied complainants can appeal, has accepted none". The association said it was "furious at Jillian Segal's persistent insistence ... that ABC and SBS, Australia's most trusted media, contribute to antisemitism".
In her first report in mid-2025, Segal initially proposed that the special envoy be given powers to oversee media organisations to encourage "accurate, fair and responsible reporting" and ensure impartiality and balance, avoiding the "acceptance of false or distorted narratives". In mid-2026, she told the royal commission into antisemitism that she wanted a new board for "oversight" that could give ABC and SBS reporting a "tick" or "guidance". This week, in Senate estimates, she expressed concern about the "tone [and] frequency of Gaza reporting on ABC".
