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Cotton Australia calls bias after scaremongering by ABC’s Four Corners
Cotton Australia has gone on the attack following another blatant anti-cotton effort by the ABC’s Four Corners program in their hatchet-job, titled ‘Water Grab’ on the emerging industry in the Northern Territory.
CEO Adam Kay hit back on behalf of the 13 growers in the NT, dispelling the myths and untruths presented by Four Corners in their program on Monday the 19th of August
In a statement picked up by media across the country (including by 9 News Darwin) and portrayed in a front-page article in Darwin’s NT News, Adam accused the show of portraying a one-sided view of the industry, disregarding legitimate scientific research, making conclusions based on false claims by activists, and irresponsibly suggesting possible catastrophic outcomes and a devastated tourism industry.
Just one day after the broadcast, Mr Kay appeared on ABC’s NT Country Hour with the head of the Amateur Fishermen's Association and the Executive Director of Water Resources in the NT to debunk the claims in the Four Corners program – Listen here.
Cotton Australia decided against appearing on the show given their track-record in mis-representing the cotton industry and ignoring the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which found the program had breached its own Code of Practice on the issue of due impartiality and unduly favouring one perspective in another story featuring cotton.
Cotton Australia has compiled a long list of the errors, untruths and half-truths presented in the story and will file a formal complaint with ABC’s Ombudsman.
Mr Kay said enough is enough! “Our growers are operating within a highly regulated environment in the NT and have been working closely with the government and stakeholders to ensure the Territory and its residents are respected, included and acknowledged.
“Some of the world’s most sustainable cotton is grown in the NT and one section of the media, played by left wing activists, will not stop the cotton industry from delivering tens of millions in economic benefits to the region.”
