Standards body rules against TV3's interview

The Broadcasting Standards Authority has upheld three of four parts of a complaint against TV3 about its interview with the lawyer for a young Sri Lankan woman deported this year.

The interview, screened on 3 News on February 16, dealt with the release of the "guinea pig" letter.

The letter started a chain of events which led to the resignation of Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel.

In a decision given yesterday, the authority said the interview breached standards on balance, accuracy, and fairness of the Free-to-Air Television Code of Broadcasting Practice.

It did not uphold a section of the complaint relating to law and order.

The complainant, Trevor Zoh, of Auckland, complained to the BSA after TV3 rejected his complaint.

The authority said the broadcast dealt with the release of a letter from the woman's lawyer, Carole Curtis, to her client.

The letter outlined options that could assist the young woman to stay in New Zealand, and contained a sketch labelled "guinea pig".

In its decision, the authority said it believed an order was appropriate in view of the item's imbalance.

It said the minister was highly critical of Ms Curtis in a preceding interview, but the interview with Ms Curtis which followed did not refer to the minister's criticism.

"Viewers were advised by TV3 that the minister was highly critical of the lawyer ... The minister accused the lawyer of manipulating the process to mislead the public to evoke public sympathy for her client.

"The on-screen interview with the lawyer did not refer to the minister's strong criticism of her behaviour."

The authority said it was announced a few days later that the minister or one of her staff had leaked the letter to TV3.

In its response, TV3 said the authority had agreed it was not necessary for a reporter to advise an interview subject in advance of the specifics of the questions to be put.

It was clear from the interview Ms Curtis knew that she was going to be asked about the letter, and she knew it had been sent to 3 News to engender a negative interpretation on the notes on the letter, TV3 said.

"She was provided with a full opportunity to comment on the letter."

TV3 denied that the lawyer was ambushed, and said that she had been given an ample opportunity to respond to the minister on her own and her client's behalf.

It added that the letter "began a chain of events which led to the sacking of the minister and disclosure of the source of the letter".

The authority ordered CanWest TVWorks Ltd, owner of TV3, to broadcast a statement summarising its decision and explaining why the complaint was upheld.

- NZPA