Malcolm Turnbull disappointed in ABC's 'lack of quality journalism'

Malcolm Turnbull has expressed concern and frustration at the quality of ABC reporting, saying the national broadcaster has an "obligation to be accurate and impartial".

Days after the Liberals voted to sell the ABC at their national conference, the prime minister said some presenters showed left-leaning impartiality.

While he again ruled out ever privatising it, Mr Turnbull said he was disappointed in the "quality of the journalism".

"It is the lack of accuracy," the prime minister told Melbourne's 3AW.

"The ABC has an obligation under its Act, for news and current affairs to be accurate and impartial.

"I am concerned that there have been too many cases of simply inaccurate reporting.

"As a national broadcaster, the ABC has an obligation to be fair and impartial."

Mr Turnbull also said when they made a mistake, the ABC had to "promptly and prominently correct it."

The government has, in recent months, made a number of complaints to ABC management about the accuracy and balance of some news and current affairs reports.

The motion to sell the ABC caused a political and public backlash, and was a distraction the government didn't need.

However Mr Turnbull qualified that it would never be sold "under a government I lead".