Commenting on the Commentators

Whether you absorb the news through the traditional six o’clock segment over dinner, read the latest updates during the work commute, or by scrolling through social media, the Australian political news sphere is dominated by familiar publishers, ranging from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to Sky News.

Each outlet occupies a different part of the political spectrum, with some framing issues from a right-of-centre lens, while others adopt a more left-leaning commentary style.

Following Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP’s address to the National Press Club on 10 June, we analysed all six of his addresses since taking office in 2022, compiling the questions posed by Australia’s leading news publishers to reveal patterns in their framing and focus over the past three years.

We at Nexus APAC think it’s about time the tables were turned on our much-loved political commentators. So, join us as we provide commentary on the commentators.

The Conversation

Unlike other news outlets, The Conversation relies on partnerships with universities and philanthropists to fund its endeavours. It adopts a more scholarly tone, with academics and professional editors collaborating to deliver  accurate and truthful commentary and analysis. As such, The Conversation is generally regarded as a relatively non-partisan outlet, though it tends to carry a slight left-leaning undertone.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Ms Michelle Grattan AO FASSA, Chief Political Correspondent of The Conversation, asked questions on the following:

• The role of the Federal Government in hospital reform and the need for change in the system (10 June 2025)
• The Government’s position on increasing taxes due to national debt levels (30 April 2025)
• The biggest lesson learnt after governing for one term (24 January 2025)
• Scrapping of the stage three tax cuts and its impact on inflation (25 January 2024)
• The defined purpose of superannuation following reforms during COVID (22 February 2023)
• The Government’s industrial relations reform agenda (29 August 2022)

From the above questions, it is clear that The Conversation does not necessarily follow an agenda through its questioning. Instead, it shapes its questions around current issues of the day, framing them through an academic lens rather than a political one.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The ABC was founded by the Scullin Labor Government in 1929 and is a corporate Commonwealth entity that relies directly on government grants and funds allocated in the annual budget to continue its operations. Although the ABC claims to be impartial in its reporting of the news, it is often viewed as left-leaning, with a focus on highlighting progressive social issues.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Ms Jane Norman, National Affairs Correspondent, Ms Laura Tingle, Global Affairs Correspondent, Ms Melissa Clarke, Radio National Political Correspondent, and Mr Andrew Probyn, former Political Correspondent, asked questions on the following:

• The Government’s agenda on increasing defence spending due to growing global uncertainty (Ms Norman, 10 June 2025)
• The Government’s view on tweaking its defence posture to focus more on the defence of Australia in the context of geopolitical uncertainty, and on joining a regional free trade bloc (Ms Tingle, 30 April 2025)
• Rising public support for keeping the date of Australia Day (Ms Norman, 24 January 2025)
• Reason for changing the stage three tax cuts now and not earlier (Ms Clarke, 25 January 2024)
• Whether there had been any definitive decisions made yet regarding the Voice to Parliament (Mr Probyn, 22 February 2023)
• The Government’s plan regarding the stage three tax cuts, and whether they would undo them (Mr Probyn, 29 August 2022)

While the ABC reports on fairly similar issues to more right-leaning outlets, the difference lies in how these issues are framed.

As seen above, the ABC often adds a social dimension to issues that are often treated in isolation. This is particularly evident in its coverage of the stage three tax cuts, where questions focused not on criticising or defending the Government, but on changing social dynamics, especially cost-of-living pressures faced by low and middle-income earners.

Seven Network

Seven Group Holdings, run by Mr Kerry Stokes AC, owns Seven Network, along with several smaller outlets. Due to its ownership and internal structure, the Seven Network is often viewed as having a centre-right-leaning editorial stance.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Mr Mark Riley, Political Editor, asked questions on the following:

• The Government’s plan to build more houses and how it will work with the states to do this (10 June 2025)
• Whether Australians are better off now than they were three years ago (30 April 2025)
• What Mr Albanese thought of being labelled as too soft, and if he needed to be stronger to win a second term (24 January 2025)
• If the Government were prepared to declare which election promises they would not break (25 January 2024)
• If the Government would go back on their election promises if needed, particularly superannuation tax breaks, due to the developing cost-of-living crisis. (22 February 2023)
• The Government’s plan to legislate gender pay equity into the Fair Work Act, and how this will be measured (29 August 2022)

Seven Network has generally leaned into more controversial topics in their questioning. Seven Network’s centre-right-leaning stance is also apparent, for example, in their questioning around the ‘soft’ narrative pushed by the Coalition in the lead-up to the 2025 Federal Election.

Special Broadcasting Service

Similarly to the ABC, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) was founded by the Fraser Government in 1977 and continues to rely on government funding to operate. The SBS was established to provide an ethnic radio service, catering to the large influx of non-English-speaking migrants entering Australia. The SBS has remained fairly progressive and is perceived as a left-leaning news outlet.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Ms Anna Henderson, Chief Political Correspondent at the SBS, asked questions on the following:

• The Government’s plans to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody, particularly in the Northern Territory (10 June 2025)
• Workers struggling under Labor and the declining quality of life (30 April 2025)
• What Mr Albanese hopes his legacy will be as Prime Minister (24 January 2025)
• The Government’s stance on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict (25 January 2024)
• The next steps following the Voice Referendum, and how quickly it would proceed (22 February 2023)
• The Government’s view on Mer Island, birthplace of Mr Edward Mabo, reaching out to a Chinese state-owned company to receive investment for community infrastructure (29 August 2022)

As expected, questions from SBS, while though topical and tied to current events, are framed through a socially progressive lens. This likely reflects the outlet’s origins as an ethnic radio service and its foundational commitment to diversity, inclusion and multicultural Australia.

Sky News

Sky News Australia is owned by News Corp Australia, which is famously owned by Australian media powerhouse, Rupert Murdoch AC, KCSG. Sky News has many conservative and right-wing commentators on its programs.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Mr Andrew Clennell, Political Editor, Mr Cameron Reddin, Political Correspondent, Ms Olivia Caisley, former Political Correspondent, and Mr Kieran Gilbert, Chief News Anchor, asked questions on the following:

• The Government’s plan for defence spending, highlighting the need to increase the overall defence budget and work closely with the US (Mr Clennell, 10 June 2025)
• The Government’s broken promises following the last election and criticism of the Labor campaign (Mr Clennell, 30 April 2025)
• The Government’s agenda regarding Israel and calls to stamp out antisemitism and hate speech towards Israel (Mr Reddin, 24 January 2025)
• If the Government has ruled out changes to taxes, such as negative gearing. (Ms Caisley, 25 January 2024)
• Whether the draft proposal for the Voice to Parliament remains open to changes based on feedback and recommendations (Mr Gilbert, 22 February 2023)
• Whether the Government is prepared to implement tax reforms to pay for its election promises (Mr Gilbert, 29 August 2022)

Most of its questions to the Prime Minister carried conservative undertones, particularly on topics such as the ongoing Israel conflict, increased defence spending, and strengthening military ties with the US.

Australian Financial Review

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) is owned by Nine Entertainment, a publicly listed company. Mr Bruce Gordon AO is the largest shareholder in Nine, and is highly influential regarding the company’s operations and appointments.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Mr Phillip Coorey, Political Editor, asked questions on the following:

• The role of the Productivity Summit, and whether industrial relations input from businesses will be considered (10 June 2025)
• The Government’s view on the possibility of taxing trusts to pay off national debt (30 April 2025)
• Broken promises regarding tax cuts and tax reform on superannuation (24 January 2025)
• The Government’s agenda regarding the rise of bracket creep (25 January 2024)
• Whether Australians have anything to be concerned about regarding tax changes to super concessional rates or draw down rates (22 February 2023)
• The Government’s stance on increasing immigration numbers to fill skill shortages (29 August 2022)

As its name suggests, the AFR frames current political issues through a fiscal lens, focusing heavily on topics such as national debt, tax reform, and industrial relations. Additionally, the AFR tends to adopt a right-leaning lens on economic questions.

Nine Network  

Like the AFR, the Nine Network is owned by Nine Entertainment, leading to a perception of slightly centre-right-leaning reporting. However, this is less pronounced than in the AFR, allowing the network to maintain relatively stable public trust.

During the previous six National Press Club addresses, Mr Charles Croucher, Chief Political Editor, and Mr Chris Uhlmann, former Chief Political Editor, asked questions on the following:

• What Mr Albanese will discuss during his meeting with President Trump, and if the shooting of Nine Journalist, Ms Lauren Tomasi, would be a topic of discussion (Mr Croucher, 10 June 2025)
• The EV tax break, and the Government’s view on scrapping it due to cost blowouts and to save the Treasury money (Mr Croucher, 30 April 2025)
• Whether Mr Albanese would be open to a minority government with the Greens, and the implications of this for productivity (Mr Croucher, 24 January 2025)
• Whether the Government will amend the stage 3 tax cuts package in order to secure the support of the Greens and pass the package through Parliament (Mr Croucher, 25 January 2024)
• The Government’s message to those criticising ASIO for its stance on foreign interference (Mr Croucher, 22 February 2023)
• The Government’s agenda regarding locating and extracting critical minerals necessary for the energy transition (Mr Uhlmann, 29 August 2022)

Nine Network’s slight centre-right-leaning commentary is reflected in the themes and issues it chooses to highlight in its questions. As shown above, Nine has tended to focus on traditionally conservative themes, such as national security, and has echoed rhetoric implying that Labor must depend on the Greens or govern in minority.

Nexus APAC will continue to monitor the National Press Club and the areas of focus of major media outlets.