If a story would not stand up in court, it should not be published.  

It certainly should not be published by a publically-funded national broadcaster, and followed by outrageous social media slurs.  

And yet, the(ir) ABC has been desperately trying to clean egg off their face this week as it emerged that Managing Director David Anderson apologised to Christian Porter over Louise Milligan and Sally Neighbour tweets.

The Australian reported Anderson offered a face-to-face apology dubious social media posts in the messy aftermath of the defamation suit launched by former attorney general.

With all goodwill successfully torched between the national broadcaster and the public who fund it, what else could this plushly funded circus throw into the ring?

How about a penis? 

Yes, you heard me correctly, how about airing a fully exposed on an episode of Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell in the very same week?

Ironically, the segment was actually about Porter’s defamation lawsuit, and in the heavily bleeped skit, Micallef and a cast-mate discussed some of the intricacies of defamation law. The discussion turned to more generally discuss censorship at the(ir) ABC, and a totally nude man emerged through a door to announce, “Ita wants to wind the segment up now”. 

Now, there are two possible responses to this flesh fix appearing on screen.  

Either, the friends of the ABC are thrilled that our tax dollars are being used to fund penises roaming around in full view. 

Or, the sane, common-sense conservatives who actually work to fund this crap want to ask, “What on earth is going on at the(ir) ABC?”

Leftist media gaggle Pedestrian — an offshoot of the Nine empire — attempted the art of deflection, saying “we can’t wait for Bolt’s take on this”, telling readers to, “clutch your pearls and start writing your local minister, Beryls of Australia. Because the ABC, out of sheer blue nothing, put a full-on dick – a penis, balls and all – on air in full view of the nation last night. Shocking! Appalling! Tax dollars etc!”

How soul-crushingly depressing that our national broadcaster’s staff are now such a law to themselves that they have to resort to such gimmickry — and how soul-crushingly depressing for our media overall knowing there’s a chorus of ABC wannabees waiting in the wings, ready to justify any ABC behaviour, be it slur or stunt.