BSA dismisses Hobbit interview complaints

The Hobbit will now join the list of other big-budget productions which have received major taxpayer funded subsidies. Photo / Supplied

Broadcaster Paul Holmes was passionate and aggressive during an interview on workers' rights for The Hobbit movie, but did not breach fairness standards, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) says.

Holmes interviewed Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly and South Pacific Pictures managing director John Barnett on TVNZ's Q + A programme on October 24.

Movie studio Warner Bros had considered moving the $670 million project offshore after a dispute between producer Sir Peter Jackson and the Actors' Equity union, which issued a do-not-work order on the film over a collective agreement for actors.

During the interview, Ms Kelly said the dispute had been settled, but Mr Barnett disagreed.

Holmes interrupted Ms Kelly a number of times, questioning her handling of the matter.

"With the greatest respect Ms Kelly, I think you might be fantasising. The general public impression is that the union is in full retreat," he said.

"What do you know about show business? What do you know about the film industry? What do you know about international studios? What do you know about international actors' unions?"

Two people complained, saying the programme breached broadcasting standards relating to fairness, good taste and decency and discrimination and denigration.

One said Holmes' approach was "unreasonable" and failed to give Ms Kelly an opportunity to present her point of view.

In a decision released today, the BSA dismissed the complaints but said there was a clear difference in Holmes' treatment of Ms Kelly and Mr Barnett.

"During the first part of the interview the host interrupted Ms Kelly on a number of occasions and was openly biased," it said.

"As the interview progressed, the host became unnecessarily aggressive and displayed active contempt towards Ms Kelly's position. This was in stark contrast to the non-confrontational and respectful manner with which he interviewed Mr Barnett.

"(However), we consider that, in her position as president of the CTU, Ms Kelly would have expected to be interviewed robustly on a topic that had generated much public controversy."

The BSA said Holmes was expressing his personal opinion and "freedom of expression protects his right to do so".

- NZPA