ABC staff have been instructed not to delete emails, photographs, and documents related to antisemitism, social cohesion, and the Bondi terrorist attack. This directive comes as preparations intensify for an upcoming royal commission into the December massacre.
In a message to staff, ABC’s Director of News Justin Stevens revealed that the National Archives of Australia had issued “disposal freeze notices” to institutions including the ABC and SBS. These orders require the public broadcaster to retain any document or record potentially relevant to the commission, encompassing topics such as social cohesion, antisemitism, religiously motivated extremism, radicalisation, law enforcement, border control, and details surrounding the Bondi attack.
Background on the Royal Commission
Last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a royal commission into the devastating attack on December 14, which resulted in 15 deaths. Initially, Albanese opposed a federal inquiry, suggesting a NSW-based inquiry would suffice. However, he reversed his stance following criticism from various political quarters. Former High Court judge Virginia Bell was appointed as commissioner, with the investigation set to conclude before December 14, 2026.
The commission aims to scrutinize “the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society… in Australia.”
Implications for ABC Staff
Stevens informed ABC employees that the directive to preserve records was sent to all news staff to ensure comprehensive compliance, although only some may have relevant materials. He emphasized the need to protect a range of materials, including documents, emails, text messages, social media posts, audio records, and datasets. Stevens also cautioned against using timed disappearing messages on encrypted apps like Signal, commonly used by journalists for sensitive discussions with sources.
“Going forward, if you receive or send messages on Signal or any similar apps on these topics, continuing to use a disappearing messages setting would be a breach of the notice,” Stevens stated. He further advised staff to exclude emails on these topics from deletion for storage and security reasons until further notice.
Historical Context and Broader Impact
This is not the first time such a notice has been issued. In 2020, the ABC, along with other government agencies, received a similar directive from the National Archives concerning a federal inquiry into potential breaches of the law of war by Australian forces in Afghanistan. That notice remains active.
The current notice, issued by National Archives’ Director-General Simon Froude, applies to over 30 government agencies, including the ABC, SBS, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the eSafety Commissioner, and the Attorney-General’s Department. Froude emphasized the necessity of a disposal freeze to ensure the protection and availability of these records when required.
“A failure to comply with the notice can incur penalties of up to $6600,”
Froude noted in a statement on the archives’ website.
Reactions and Future Steps
The ABC has declined to comment on the notice. Meanwhile, an SBS spokesman stated, “SBS has only recently received this notice and we are still in the process of working through the implementation and impacts.”
This development underscores the broader implications for media and government agencies in handling sensitive information. As the royal commission progresses, it is expected to shed light on institutional practices concerning antisemitism and social cohesion, potentially influencing policy changes and public discourse in Australia.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal politics, with stakeholders keenly observing the commission’s findings. The outcome could have significant ramifications for how similar incidents are managed in the future.
