The ABC has been slammed after its boss and a news host spent ‘a minute-and-a-half’ performing an Acknowledgement to Country during a ‘car crash’ TV interview.
ABC managing director David Anderson was being interviewed by ABC News’ senior cultural adviser Miriam Corowa about a review that found racism was endemic at the national broadcaster.
The interview began with Corowa acknowledging her own ancestors, the Bundjalung people of the NSW north coast, and using a greeting in Bundjalung language before also acknowledging the interview was taking place on Gadigal country.
In response, Anderson then opened with an acknowledgement of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation before paying his respects ‘to elders past and present’.
2GB mornings host Ben Fordham was left stunned at the lengthy prologue.
‘It took a minute-and-a-half of acknowledgments and box-ticking before we could get to the actual interview,’ he said on Wednesday.
‘Before they could talk like normal human beings do, they had to jump through various hoops, so this is all part of the problem at the ABC.
‘And what does the identity of the host have to do with the subject matter?’
The report, which was commissioned in the wake of Stan Grant’s shock resignation from the ABC over claims he was unsupported while the target of racist attacks, found racial discrimination, slurs and stereotyping were rife at the organisation.
David Anderson opened the interview about the racism review with an acknowledgement of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation before paying his respects ‘to elders past and present’
The interview began with Corowa acknowledging her own ancestors, the Bundjalung people of the NSW north coast, before also acknowledging the interview was taking place on Gadigal country
Specific details included staff receiving comments about their racial appearance, stereotyping and being mistaken for someone else in a racist manner.
Mr Anderson issued a full apology to all ABC employees past and present on Tuesday.
‘I have today written to all staff and I have expressed that I am deeply sorry to anybody who experienced racism at the ABC for whenever that is and whenever that has happened,’ he told ABC News.
‘It shouldn’t have happened, it shouldn’t happen and I am sincerely sorry for that experience.’
The ABC boss also issued an warning to staff.
‘For anyone who thinks it is OK to display or practice racist behaviour, or who thinks they can make people feel belittled based on their identity, we will call you out and remove you from this organisation,’ Mr Anderson said.
The report, which was commissioned in the wake of Stan Grant’s shock resignation from the ABC over claims he was unsupported while the target of racist attacks, found racial discrimination, slurs and stereotyping were rife at the organisation
‘You are not welcome here. We are a workplace that values respect, and we expect it.’
Fordham commented in between playing excerpts of the interview, poking fun at how long it took Corowa to ask Anderson a question.
‘It was hard work – a minute-and-a-half of preamble and identity politics before we can even get to the substance,’ Fordham said.
‘In 90 seconds it sums up how removed they are from the real world.’
The 171-page report was led by Indigenous lawyer Terri Janke, a Wuthathi, Yadhaighana and Meriam woman.
It received evidence from 120 past and present ABC staff including Indigenous and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) employees.
‘People who are First Nations and CALD expressed not feeling valued in the workplace, and tokenised, the report, titled Listen Loudly, Act Strongly, stated.
‘There is a cultural issue throughout the organisation that allows racism to exist and persist at the ABC, which has caused widespread distrust in these systems among First Nations and CALD staff.’
Interviewees said ABC management show ‘lack of shared understanding of racism’.
The ABC said it will implement all 15 recommendations of the report, which it expects all staff to read.
Other measures include rolling out anti-racism training across the ABC, providing pathways for career progression and representation of culturally diverse staff at management level and the creation of a First Nations Director of Strategy role.
The ABC will also bolster its response to racist attacks on staff, including from social media, with a process where staff members are urged to immediately report such an attack to a centralised and independent team.
Fordham also recently highlighted the story of a woman who revealed she was forced to take part in a Welcome to Country before each Pilates class.
Loren Barry, a producer at Triple M, said she didn’t understand why her exercise sessions had to begin with the ceremony.
‘I’m all for the Welcome to Country,’ she said.
‘But I think that, when you’ve got the same people in the classes everyday, you’ve been welcomed.’
2GB host Ben Fordham was left stunned after hearing about her story, arguing they had ‘lost all meaning’.
‘I’m convinced that in a few years from now organisations will be dropping this tradition because they’ve flogged it so hard that it’s lost all meaning,’ he said.
