ABC boss ‘regretful’ Laura Tingle’s statements on Dutton were ‘made without qualification’

ABC Managing Director David Anderson says he is “quite regretful” Laura Tingle’s statements on Opposition leader Peter Dutton were “made without qualification”. Mr Anderson fronted Senate Estimates on Thursday following uproar over Ms Tingle’s comments. “I am quite regretful that these statements were made without the usual qualification they would normally have and, therefore, that actually hurt the ABC,” he said. “I think Ms Tingle suffered for it, and I think that that it allowed that when these comments are put together sometimes, it allows for other people to take a debate into a different direction. I am generally sorry that that happened. I wish it hadn’t have happened. “When political leaders put things out for debate, I think the course that that takes I can’t be sorry for because I can’t be accountable for what has said off an ABC platform. So, it’s difficult for me to apologise for that.”