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An industry association has called on an ABC journalist to make a public apology, saying the network’s clarification did not go far enough.
In March, the ABC’s chief economic reporter Emma Alberici stated during an episode of “Matter of Fact” that “anyone can set themselves up as a mortgage broker, even a gym owner”.
At the time the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) slammed the comment and called on the ABC to “publicly correct the record and apologise”.
The ABC on 1 June issued a clarification on a section of their website, but FBAA CEO Peter White said it does not fix the damage done to the industry’s reputation.
White said the comments were clearly wrong and that Alberici confused a bank’s “introducer program” with professional mortgage brokers.
The ABC statement said: “Matter of Fact with Stan Grant: On 13 March, a discussion about the day’s events at the Financial Services Royal Commission included incorrect references to mortgage brokers. The ABC acknowledges that there is a regulatory scheme that applies to mortgage brokers and that ASIC has set minimum education requirements for brokers who provide third-party home loan credit assistance.”
However, White has said this correction “on an obscure webpage that no one will read”, is an affront to thousands of small business owners who are finance brokers and provide a highly professional service under a strict regulatory environment.
He added, “Emma Alberici should not only be forced to make a public apology herself, but the ABC should be doing a story on the fact that 54% of Australians trust brokers more than the banks to provide them with the best mortgage advice.
“The ABC should care far more that they got something so simple so wrong.
“The FBAA will not stay silent when the media provide information that is wrong, and we will keep working to build on the confidence the public already has in our sector.”
