Warren Mundine praises Kerri-Anne Kennerley for talking about issues in indigenous communities
Indigenous Leader Warren Mundine has praised TV host Kerri-Anne Kennerley for opening up a much-needed discussion about social problems in remote Aboriginal communities.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Indigenous Leader Warren Mundine has praised TV host Kerri-Anne Kennerley for opening up a much-needed discussion about social problems in remote Aboriginal communities, saying it was “stupid” to label her a racist for doing so.
Mr Mundine’s backing came left-wing protesters stepped up their attack on TV veteran Kennerley, who on Monday issued an on-air challenge to crowds who marched against Australia Day when it comes to health, crime and social problems in Outback communities.
MORE NEWS
Denim hotpants land DUI driver in hot water
Tom Burgess expecting baby with model girlfriend
Man severely injured after alleged drag race crash
“I know exactly where Kennerley was coming from and many indigenous people are in the same boat,” Mr Mundine said.
“We are sick and tired of all this whingeing when we want to confront the real issues that are being dealt with in communities.”
Mr Mundine backs changing the date of Australia Day but said there are “more than a hundred” issues that are more pressing for indigenous communities.
“Suicide, jobs, economic development, getting kids to school, health stuff — it all comes well in front of changing the date.”
Kennerley was called “racist” by fellow panellist Yumi Stynes on Studio 10 after she called out Australia Day protesters, saying: “Has any single one of those people been out to the Outback, where children, babies, five-year-olds are being raped? Their mothers are being raped, their sisters are being raped. They get no education. What have you done?”
Stynes dodged Studio 10 on Tuesday, saying in an Instagram post she “urgently want to lie around and do nothing” but denying it was connected to Monday’s spat.
Alice Springs indigenous councillor Jacinta Price also praised Kennerley for “telling the truth”.
“The really dangerous racism is turning a blind eye to the facts of the matter, so that Aboriginal women, children, yes and even men, continue to suffer horrific lives,” Ms Price writes in Tuesday’s Telegraph.
Ms Kennerley’s position is also backed by statistics. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare lists indigenous women, young women and pregnant women as the most at risk of family, domestic and sexual violence.
In 2014—15, indigenous women were 32 times as likely to be hospitalised due to family violence as non-indigenous women and up to 3.4 times as likely to be sexually assaulted as other Australians.
Kennerley said it was not racist to discuss indigenous issues.
“Having a view about wanting to fix rape is not talking in a superior tone or believing somebody else is inferior,” she told the Telegraph. “It is a fact of life. That is not racist.”
Originally published as Warren Mundine praises Kerri-Anne Kennerley for talking about issues in indigenous communities
Join the conversation
$14k a clip: NSW YouTube stars making more than you
YouTube stars in NSW are raking in thousands of dollars per video but it’s what they do in their clips that will drive traditional workers mad. Check out the rich list.
Read more
Glamming it up for a return to the racecourse
The first official racing carnival featuring the new $46.6m WINX stand at Randwick Racecourse is kicking off, with model and new mum Ksenija Lukich among those dressing up for the occasion.
Read more