The ABC boss has rejected an Australian media watchdog finding that the public broadcaster breached impartiality obligations in a Four Corners program about the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said in a statement on Thursday it had found the program's March 2025 episode Sacrifice to have "unduly favoured one perspective".
ABC managing director Hugh Marks has rejected those findings.
The regulator said it found the episode did not adequately explain the findings of an Australian National Audit Office audit, and conflated stages of the memorial's redevelopment, "which was likely to leave viewers confused".
ACMA chair Nerida O'Loughlin said while the regulator found the episode did not breach accuracy requirements, Four Corners was still needed to comply with impartiality obligations under the ABC code of practice.
"[The ACMA finding] could restrain journalists in questioning public officials, seeking explanations and clarifying points of public importance."
The Sacrifice episode set out to examine concerns raised about the multi-million-dollar renovation and extension of the Australian War Memorial and to seek responses from the people responsible for the project, the ABC's response said.
The ABC's Ombudsman Office investigated the episode in March last year and found it did not breach the broadcaster's accuracy, impartiality or fair and honest dealing editorial standards.
The last time the ABC rejected an ACMA finding was in 2022 after concerns were raised about the Four Corners episode, Fox and the Big Lie.
The latest ACMA finding marks the second time this year the regulator has decided a Four Corners program breached the ABC code of practice.