The SMH argues that suspect electoral behaviour won't work in the long run as long as Australia has a quality media to expose it, for the common good.
The SMH levels criticism at One Nation for its threat to blackmail the Australian people by demanding cuts to ABC funding.
The threat came after the ABC broadcast a leaked recording in which One Nation leader Pauline Hanson appears to acknowledge a $106,000 Jabiru plane was donated by Victorian property developer Bill McNee. And the paper pointedly says One Nation is the one to be blamed for putting itself in a position where its standard of behaviour is rightly questioned.
However, Pauline Hanson has backed away from a threat to block government budget bills unless funding was cut to the ABC.
One Nation whip Brian Burston earlier said the minor party wanted the public broadcaster's allocation reduced by $600 million over four years, citing ABC bias and unfair treatment.
The SMH argues that any political threat to hold the public broadcaster to ransom and threaten its independence undermines confidence in the parliament and democracy.
And it says voters trust the ABC as opinion polls regularly show about 85 per cent of them want it to be there providing an important community service. And that should not get entangled in political games.
The SMH argues that the message for One Nation from the well-deserved media scrutiny is clear: suspect electoral behaviour won't work in the long run as long as Australia has a quality media to expose it, for the common good.
