ABC ‘absolutely biased’ on Voice campaign, says Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price

Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused the ABC of bias on its Adelaide radio station, singling out a prominent presenter.

Liberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has accused the ABC of being “absolutely biased” on Indigenous affairs coverage, saying she is “treated with contempt on many different platforms”.

In an interview on ABC Radio Adelaide, Senator Price singled out, as particularly hostile, ABC presenter Patricia Karvelas for describing the Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney as “a legend”, on the eve of the 2022 election.

ABC RN breakfast host Patricia Karvelas with the Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney which was posted on Twitter with the caption: 'This woman is a legend and looks like she will be the next Indigenous affairs minister #UluruStatement'.

Asked by ABC presenter David Bevan how she rated the ABC’s coverage of the Voice referendum, Senator Price, a leading No campaigner, said: “There is absolutely a bias in terms of the way the ABC approaches Indigenous issues, full stop.”

Asked to explain this accusation, Senator Price said the ABC would place a conservative Voice on discussion programs such as Q+A as a token gesture.

“It has always been a situation where you’re a token conservative,” she said.

“If you’re a conservative Aboriginal woman, as far as the ABC is concerned, you are controversial or you’re not part of the status quo.

“There must be something … you’re generally made to feel as though it’s unacceptable your approach to issues.”

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price campaigning for the No vote at the Marden Shopping centre on October 4. Picture Kelly Barnes

Senator Price said Yes campaigners were given more airtime than those opposing the Voice to Parliament and accused the ABC of seeking out white voices to pit against Aboriginal voices.

“My experiences with ABC interviews are often hostile and I’m treated with contempt on many different platforms, whether it’s ABC Breakfast, or whether it’s RN, (Patricia) Karvelas and (Hamish) McDonald,” she said.

“They’re particularly hostile toward me, and it’s evident when you’ve got Karvelas as someone who paints Linda Burney as a legend.

“Well, the other side is obviously not legendary to such an individual.”

However, Senator Price told Bevan, a veteran ABC Radio Adelaide presenter, that he did “a particularly good job” because he allowed “for the conversation to be heard across the board”.

“I think it’s to the credit of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that one of its own can ask that question about itself, so that goes to the ABC’s credit,” Bevan replied.

An ABC spokesperson said: “Patricia Karvelas and Hamish Macdonald can be challenging, rigorous and inquisitorial interviewers – and they should be, especially when they’re interviewing politicians. They are highly professional and they never treat anyone with contempt.

“The ABC’s coverage of the referendum has been comprehensive and informative. It has at times been criticised by both the Yes and the No campaigns for “platforming” the other.

“In reality we are hearing from, scrutinising and interrogating both. Given the Yes campaign is the one proposing to change the Constitution, its proposal and the reasoning behind it would naturally receive a greater amount of scrutiny. That doesn’t equate to positive platforming.”