Shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson has lashed the ABC’s hiring of ex-bikie Mahmood Fazal, calling for an independent inquiry into how he was employed.
It comes after the ABC was forced to dismiss Mr Fazal and remove a series of reports he had produced over concerns about fake sources and inaccurate information.
Ms Henderson described the affair as “one of the biggest scandals” ever at the ABC, and questioned why the broadcaster failed to act when allegations were raised in 2024.
“This is one of the biggest scandals I think we’ve seen at the ABC,” Ms Henderson told News24.com.au.
“The ABC has hired a former ex-bikie. He was a member of a violent criminal organisation.
“Apparently he turned over a new leaf but he’s now brought the ABC into disrepute with fake news. He’s used fake sources.”
Mr Fazal ceased employment with the ABC in May 2026 following an investigation into his paid role in an external podcast, Word on the Street, in 2025.
The ABC has since been forced to remove a string of Four Corners and Background Briefing stories reported by Mr Fazal which apparently used fake anonymous sources.
Ms Henderson said Four Corners was the ABC’s “most preeminent current affairs program” and questioned why it hired someone with no journalistic experience.
“He is not a trained journalist. This is the ABC’s most preeminent current affairs program. Most journalists would walk over hot coals to get a job on Four Corners,” she said.
“And it has been brought into disrepute. And for the $1.28 billion that Australians pay the ABC every single year, Australians deserve transparency and accountability.
“What went wrong? How was this person hired? Why didn’t the ABC act when very serious allegations were first made about this person, Mahmood Fazal, back in 2024?”
The ABC has been forced to remove a string of Four Corners and Background Briefing stories reported by Mr Fazal after they failed to meet editorial standards.
The latest fallout centres on the ABC’s review of the use of anonymous interviewees in all stories reported by Mr Fazal, a former Mongols bikie.
The ABC previously removed two Four Corners stories by Mr Fazal – Cocaine Nation and Meth Highway – over concerns about fake anonymous sources.
Following those removals, the ABC has since identified three more stories of concern: Four Corners episode Silent Orders, Background Briefing episode Meet the Teens, and a segment in Post Code Wars.
In a statement on Monday, the ABC admitted its verification procedures had not been properly followed.
“The review found that in each of these cases ABC verification policies concerning the use of anonymous interviewees were not followed to a level that meets our editorial standards,” the broadcaster said.
“Therefore, in order to ensure complete confidence in published content, we have taken the decision to remove them.”
Silent Orders and Meet the Teens, along with related content, have been taken down from ABC platforms.
The specific segment made by Mr Fazal has been edited out of Post Code Wars, which otherwise remains available with an editor’s note.
The ABC said its decision was driven by concerns over confidence in the material rather than a finding that every part of the affected programs was deficient.
“Outside of this segment the episode meets our editorial standards and will remain available online with an editor’s note,” the ABC said.
The latest revelations follow the broadcaster’s decision in July to remove two other Fazal Four Corners investigations.
Those programs were taken down after concerns were identified about “the veracity of certain sources used in both programs”.
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