ABC chief executive David Anderson was forced to issue an abject apology after a scathing report found racism was endemic at the national broadcaster.
The report, which was commissioned in the wake of Stan Grant’s shock resignation from the ABC over claims he received no support while being the target of racist attacks, found that racial discrimination, insults and stereotyping were rife in the organisation.
Specific details included staff receiving comments about their racial appearance, stereotyping, and being mistaken for another person in a racist manner.
Anderson fully apologized to all ABC employees, past and present, on Tuesday.
“Today I wrote to all staff and expressed that I am deeply sorry for anyone who has experienced racism at ABC because and when it happened,” he told ABC News.
“It shouldn’t have happened, it shouldn’t happen and I’m truly sorry for that experience.”
The ABC boss also issued a warning to staff.
“Anyone who thinks it is okay to display or practice racist behavior, or who believes it can make people feel belittled because of their identity, we will report them and expel them from this organization,” Mr Anderson said.
ABC chief executive David Anderson has apologized to ABC staff, past and present, after a report found racism was endemic at the national broadcaster.
‘You are not welcome here. We are a workplace that values respect and we expect it.’
The 171-page report was prepared by Indigenous lawyer Terri Janke, a Wuthathi, Yadhaighana and Meriam woman.
It received evidence from 120 past and present ABC employees, including Indigenous and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) employees.
“People who are First Nations and CALD expressed that they do not feel valued in the workplace and symbolically,” the report, titled Listen Loud, Act Strong, stated.
“There is a cultural problem across the organization that allows racism to exist and persist in the ABC, which has caused widespread mistrust in these systems among First Nations and CALD staff.”
Stan Grant (pictured with wife Tracy Holmes) sensationally resigned as presenter of ABC’s flagship show Q+A last year after claiming the national broadcaster had failed to support him when he was the subject of racial attacks online.
Those interviewed said ABC management shows “a lack of shared understanding of racism.”
The ABC said it will implement all 15 recommendations in the report, which it hopes all staff will read.
Other measures include implementing 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 Chief Strategy Officer role.
The ABC will also strengthen its response to racist attacks against staff, including from social media, with a process where staff members are urged to immediately report any such attack to a centralised, independent team.
Anti-racism training to be given on ABC as one of 15 recommendations in scathing report on network culture
Last year Grant, who is a Wiradjuri, Dharawal and Gurrawin man, accused ABC management of “not supporting him” when he suffered racial abuse for taking part in a broadcast panel discussing colonialism before King Charles’ coronation .
“No ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or told about me,” Grant said as he stepped down as Q+A host.
‘I do not hold any individual responsible; “This is an institutional failure.”
