Communications Minister Paul Fletcher is demanding answers from the ABC Board for why Four Corners reported sexual affairs of ministers with political staffers who work for them or their colleagues.
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The "Inside the Canberra Bubble" episode, which aired November 9, focused on two federal senior ministers, Alan Tudge and Christian Porter, and women who said they received unfair and sexist treatment.
Mr Fletcher has written to ABC chair Ita Buttrose with a list of 15 questions demanding an explanation for the ABC board allowing the episode to air.
"Why does the board consider it is appropriate that the privacy of the Attorney-General and Minister Tudge ... should be compromised by the way in which the program deals extensively with aspects of their personal lives?" he asked.
He questioned why the program only dealt with Liberal ministers and not relationships involving Labor, Green or independent politicians.
The program explored how the lack of an independent complaints mechanism with power over ministers may have created a workplace culture in Parliament that allows mistreatment of political staffers, especially women.
Mr Tudge released a statement shortly after the program aired expressing his "regret" for the hurt caused one of the women featured in the program that spoke of their affair and subsequent demotion.
Mr Porter rejected allegations about his behaviour in a Canberra bar, stating he was considering legal action.
Four Corners' executive producer Sally Neighbour said the ABC's account of Mr Porter's behaviour in the story was backed up by at least five witnesses.
Mr Fletcher has asked Ms Buttrose to respond to his questions within 14 days.
Harley Dennett
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
