ABC investigates defence correspondent for allegedly not disclosing trip paid for by German shipbuilder

Royal Australian Navy ships. The ABC’s Andrew Greene wrote about a bid by German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to build the next generation of Australian navy warships, but allegedly failed to declare he had travelled to Germany on a sponsored trip. Photograph: Reuters

The ABC is investigating “serious allegations” that its defence correspondent Andrew Greene filed a story about a German shipbuilder without disclosing that he had traveled to Germany courtesy of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, which is hoping to win Australian navy contracts.

Media Watch revealed that Greene filed a story last week for ABC radio’s The World Today about how business is booming at German shipyards. The report, which has since been taken down, allegedly failed to disclose that the journalist had been a guest of the defence company.