Warren Mundine criticises the ABC for creating a new Elder-in-Residence role as a waste of time
Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has slammed the ABC for creating a new role saying it’s a “waste of time” which “doesn’t really help Aboriginal people.”
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An Indigenous leader has slammed the ABC for creating a new Elder-in-Residence role saying it’s a “waste of time” which “doesn’t really help Aboriginal people.”
The national broadcaster on Wednesday revealed that respected historian, Bidjara and Birri-Gubba Juru woman Prof Jackie Huggins AM would become the inaugural Elder-in-Residence for the next two years.
The ABC said the role was created in response to an independent review of the broadcaster, released last year, which found “systemic” racism and staff being subjected to racial slurs.
Prof Huggins will support First Nations employees and provide cultural guidance to management as it implements recommendations from the review.
When asked if the role was paid, part or full time, and what the key performance indicators were, the ABC said the information was “confidential”.
Indigenous leader Warren Mundine said no one condoned any sort of racism but “a lot of this stuff is overblown” and these positions were a “waste of time”.
“A lot of these positions just push ideological stuff which doesn’t really help Aboriginal people out at all,” Mr Mundine said.
“We just go overboard with these things. I think Aboriginal people could stand on their own and do a great job and the record proves that - you just see it around the country.
“I think better uses of taxpayer resources would be actually hiring artists. We’ve got some great film and video and TV artists around the country.”
Mr Mundine, who is friends with Prof Huggins, said she was a lovely person and “great academic” who had a long, strong history working for the Aboriginal community.
He said his comments were not a reflection on her, but the position which he deemed “strange”.
“I do emphasise it is the position it’s not Jackie. It could be anyone,” he said.
“The ABC is running around at the moment crying poor. Maybe if they actually got some of their programming right, and people would be actually watching it.”
The ABC already employs a director of First Nations Strategy, as well as the ABC’s advisory body on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, content and communities.
She was first employed at the ABC’s Brisbane headquarters as a typist when she was 16. She later went on to work at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in Canberra.
SBS appointed an inaugural Elder-in-Residence in 2021. Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO - an actor, director and arts executive - provided cultural guidance to the management and leadership teams across SBS and NITV.
Both the Coalition and Labor refused to comment on the role, with the ALP saying the “ABC has editorial and operational independence”.
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Originally published as Warren Mundine criticises the ABC for creating a new Elder-in-Residence role as a waste of time
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