ABC ombudsman replaced by a text chat with Rinehart and Murdoch

ABC boss Hugh Marks has announced yet another major shake up at the public broadcaster, declaring the independent ombudsman which evaluates complaints will be replaced with a group chat with Gina Rinehart and the Murdoch family.

This follows a series of controversial moves including clearing house of news room bosses that Murdoch media didn’t like, and multiple apologises plus an overhaul of the rules regarding jokes, after a sketch Rinehart didn’t like from Race Around the World despite the ombudsman finding no wrongdoing.

Marks explained that this new text chat approach will streamline the complaints handling process that he already follows.

“The ABC ombudsman is too focused on what is in the public interest,” said Marks, “but what about the interests of billionaires?”

“These poor billionaires are completely ignored in the media, excluding the outlets they own.”

“All they want to do is destroy the ABC and democracy, and they have every right to do that.”

“We shouldn’t just be listening to them, we should be putting them above any rules and processes that exist.”