Managing Director of ABC Admits Comment Claiming Australia is Racist Was a Mistake

ABC’s Managing Director, David Anderson, has admitted that a comment made by senior journalist Laura Tingle claiming Australia is a “racist country” was a mistake. Tingle, who is the chief political correspondent for ABC’s 7.30 program, made the controversial remarks during the Sydney Writer’s Festival on May 26. She also accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of inciting racial abuse against migrants seeking to buy or rent property due to his migration cut proposal, which was also supported by the Labor government.

During a budget estimate hearing on May 30, Anderson was questioned about the broadcaster’s stance on the issue. He acknowledged that Tingle’s comment was a “misstep” and expressed agreement with her that the way her comments were summarized and truncated was a mistake. Anderson emphasized the importance of providing context and analysis when making statements as a journalist, particularly when speaking off-platform.

While Anderson defended Tingle and stated that she did not deserve the “ferocity and frankly vicious attacks” directed at her in the past week, he also criticized other media outlets for spreading “misinformation” about the ABC by using Tingle’s comments. He highlighted the hurtful impact of misinformation on both individuals and the ABC itself. Anderson made it clear that he did not believe Tingle should leave the ABC but confirmed that she had been counseled on the matter.

During the Senate Committee hearing, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticized media giant News Corporation for allegedly taking advantage of the incident involving Tingle. She accused News Corp of attacking the ABC and its journalists to suit their business model rather than caring about journalistic integrity or the message being sent to the community. Hanson-Young suggested that the ABC should blacklist News Corporation personalities and commentators from their programs, as they do not contribute meaningfully to the debate.

In response, Anderson stated that the ABC would not “deplatform” individuals and emphasized the importance of maintaining a diversity of perspectives. He emphasized the ABC’s commitment to covering different views held in the country. While acknowledging that the ABC should be held to a higher degree of scrutiny, Anderson expressed concern about the vitriol directed at the broadcaster’s employees, including behavior from commercial media outlets like News Corp.

Overall, this incident involving Laura Tingle’s comments has highlighted the challenges faced by journalists when speaking off-platform and the potential for misinformation to spread. It has also sparked a larger conversation about media bias and the responsibility of media outlets to provide diverse perspectives. The ABC, under the leadership of David Anderson, remains committed to upholding journalistic standards while navigating these complex issues.