The image of the benign, slightly fuddy-duddy old eccentric has been wrong for some time. But in recent weeks, the mask has finally slipped. Rather than the nation’s lovable Aunty, the ABC is increasingly behaving like a stubborn, bigoted and embittered old spinster. Grumpy and defensive, our national broadcaster appears erratic and thin-skinned as she refuses to apologise for her recent unladylike behaviour.