Hello Spectator readers and welcome to the weekend and tonight’s edition of “Is it a parody, or is it the ABC (let alone the Age)?”

You hear a lot about the ABC Charter, but don’t often get to see it. So here are the first three clauses:

(1)  The functions of the Corporation are:

(a)  to provide within Australia innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard as part of the Australian broadcasting system consisting of national, commercial and community sectors and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to provide:

(i)  broadcasting programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform and entertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of, the Australian community …

So naturally the latest display of Aunty’s obsession with cross-dressing fits the bill, doesn’t it? Particularly when there’s a cute little munchkin involved. Nothing says “Australia” and “inform” to me like “Young girl instrumental in kickstarting acceptance of transgender people in Malta” (although that “girl” in the title looks distressingly heteronormative and will have traumatised many readers).

And, meanwhile, you’ll all be delighted to know that The Age has closed the week with a high note:

So befitting a publication that’s as poor a substitute for a proper newspaper as a teabag is for a pot of the real thing — a pot of the real thing at Fortnum & Mason.

Bye for now!