The ABC has revealed it counselled its health guru Dr Norman Swan after he made false claims about the deaths of cricketer Shane Warne and Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching.
Dr Swan earlier this month made baseless claims on ABC News Breakfast that Ms Kitching and Warne had died from heart attacks linked to COVID-19.
The ABC's managing director David Anderson acknowledged to Senate Estimates on Tuesday Dr Swan's comments were "incorrect and in error".
Mr Anderson was asked by Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson to provide an update on Dr Swan's "erroneous publication" and the action taken by the public broadcaster.
"Dr Swan's comments were made at the end of a live interview and they were clearly incorrect, they were in error, Dr Swan has apologised for that," Mr Anderson said.
"Certainly Dr Swan was counselled over the matter, he was spoken to about it and he was very regretful that he made those comments."
Mr Anderson added Dr Swan's remarks "were deemed to be not of an editorial standard that we would expected".
The public broadcaster's managing director said Dr Swan was spoken to by news management about the incorrect claims, where he admitted "he got that wrong" and "copped that on the chin".
"He knew that he made a mistake. Dr Swan was quite remorseful about it and as I said apologised consequently," Mr Anderson said.
ABC MD David Anderson at...
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