Independent review highlights deep structural racism at the ABC

IN BRIEF: 

• An independent review of the ABC, commissioned following the treatment of, and subsequent departure of high profile Indigenous presenter Stan Grant, has found damning evidence of structural racism.
• Of the 120 people who participated in the report, only one said they had not personally witnessed racism while working there.
• The Managing Director, David Anderson, apologised to all staff who have experienced racism at the organisation.
• Chair of the Bonner Committee, Dan Bourchier, said the review exposed the scale of the problem, and said it will “require the entire ABC to embed meaningful change.”
• The ABC has accepted “in principle” all 15 of the recommendations, saying it has already created a new executive position, responsible for overseeing their implementation. 

IN FULL: 

An independent review of the ABC has found damning evidence of structural racism, with nearly every person interviewed saying they’ve experienced racism in various forms in their time working at the Australian public broadcaster.  

The review was commissioned at the request of the ABC’s Bonner Committee, an Indigenous advisory group, and was sparked in part by the treatment of Indigenous presenter Stan Grant, who faced racist attacks fuelled by a “relentless campaign” against the ABC’s coronation broadcast. Grant, who quit the broadcaster in August 2023, said he had received little support from ABC management.  

On 2 October, the public broadcaster released the findings of the review, which was led by lawyer Dr Terri Janke, and involved scores of Indigenous as well as culturally and linguistically diverse employees about prejudices they had experienced both outside and inside the organisation. 

The ‘Listen Loudly, Act Strongly’ review reported that, among the 120 current and former ABC employees who provided submissions, only one said they had not personally witnessed racism while working there. Every single Indigenous participant said they had been exposed to racism while working at the ABC. 

Instances of internal and external racism detailed in the report extended from the overt: 

• “The term was ‘diversity hire’ used so casually by colleagues, used to undermine people behind their back.”
• “The attitude is very ‘you’re lucky to be here’ rather than talented.” 
• Assuming that First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse staff cannot report on matters relating to them/their cultural background with objectivity 
• Assuming someone holds a more junior role because of their racial appearance; and mistaking someone for being a trespasser in the workplace. 
• “It was comments like ‘ohh, how much of you is Aboriginal? Don’t worry. You don’t look it’,” another was quoted anonymously as saying. 

To the covert: 

• Stereotyping, for example, as the so-called “subservient ethnic woman”, or the “angry Black woman”.  
• Comments such as “Your voice/look is too Western Sydney”, “You know people out at the Western Suburbs right?”, including where assumptions are being made based on ethnicity and accent, and in ways that are speaking negatively of suburbs with typically higher populations of culturally diverse people.  
• Being asked to do work but without acknowledgement – stories are given to white colleagues to present or to take credit.  

“This review exposes the depth of the problems. To achieve the crucial work of Listen Loudly, Act Strongly will require the entire ABC to work to embed meaningful change.” – Dan Bourchier, Chair of the Bonner Committee

‘Disconnect between intention and outcome’

Many First Nations and culturally diverse staff said senior management had failed to back them in the same way as they had supported Anglo staff. 

“Many participants described being targeted by other media organisations or individuals on their social media accounts,” the report said.  “Such attacks included racial commentary and was often used to bring the objectivity or impartiality of the staff member into question.” 

As the ABC’s Indigenous affairs journalist Miriam Corowa wrote in an analysis for ABC News: “The contrast between how the ABC presents itself to the world and what has been revealed within the organisation in the report is jarring. The disconnect between intention and outcome for employees directly affected by racism is a place of extreme discomfort and distress.” 

The report was welcomed by media union, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, as a “watershed moment” for the sector. 

“All Australian media organisations are now on notice that they can no longer ignore these issues of inclusion, access and diversity,” acting director Michelle Rae said. 

“It is shameful that so many ABC staff have felt abandoned by their employer when they have suffered racism, discrimination and bias. Other media organisations cannot assume these issues are isolated to the national broadcaster.” 

The ABC’s Managing Director, David Anderson, apologised to staff who’ve experienced racism at the organisation, calling the details in the report “disturbing.”  

“We all need to do better for our colleagues on our commitment to zero tolerance for racism in our workplace,” he said in a statement. “We all need to do better for our colleagues by preventing or acting on behaviour that seeks to discriminate against, bully or demean them.  

“We all need to do better for our colleagues by remaining vigilant against racism or discrimination of any kind in our workplace.”  

The ABC chair, Kim Williams, told the broadcaster “racism is an issue in Australia” and it’s important to “address racism within the organisation fearlessly” and “actually take next steps” to improve systems.  

The Chair of the Bonner Committee, Dan Bourchier, said “The ABC’s First Nations and CALD staff need this to be acted on across the organisation, and the Australian people expect more from the ABC, to ensure it remains the important institution it is. 

“This review exposes the depth of the problems. To achieve the crucial work of Listen Loudly, Act Strongly will require the entire ABC to work to embed meaningful change.”