Hawthorn investigation should be a stark warning against reviews that lack clear direction

While the ABC must take Stan Grant’s allegations seriously, the last thing we need is another organisation reviewing itself to discover whether it is racist.

Journalist Stan Grant is stepping away from the ABC, which gave him a prominent platform to present his views on colonialism, race and monarchy.

His departure is a loss for all of us. Just like footballers who are booed, not for being Indigenous, but for being outspoken advocates for their people, Grant has had enough.

Grant has criticised the ABC for not supporting him after he was the target of racial abuse, particularly after his inclusion in the controversial coverage of King Charles’ coronation.

He accused the ABC of “institutional failure”, prompting a review into racism affecting staff.

Stan Grant has criticised the ABC for not supporting him. Picture: ABC

While the ABC must take such allegations seriously, the last thing we need is another organisation reviewing itself to discover whether it is racist.

The damaging Hawthorn Football Club investigation assessing claims of racism should be a stark warning against reviews that lack clear direction, have inadequate legal powers and are conducted internally.

If the ABC believes there are racist elements in its organisation, it should appoint an external body such as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to conduct a proper review.

Grant said his decision was partly a result of “distorted media coverage” of the ABC’s coronation broadcast and claimed his discussion had proceeded with “maturity and respect,” that he was speaking with love, not hate. I beg to differ, and 1000 ABC viewers who lodged complaints agree.

The ABC's panel during King Charles III's coronation.

It’s unfortunate the mainstream media has become the ABC’s scapegoat. Media outlets offering justified and reasoned criticism of the program, and Grant’s role in it, are not to blame for “relentless racial filth” that Grant says “poisons the air I breathe”.

I don’t resile from criticising the program, which had Grant and other outspoken republicans talking over footage of the historic event. Viewers wanted to hear who was arriving, but instead were subjected to tales of genocide and broken bones.

But no debate about a TV program should lead to racial vilification or threats against any individual. Like many journalists and ABC staff, I stand with Stan in objecting to the horrific racial abuse he encountered. The ABC and social media sites should do something meaningful about the way he’s been treated without blaming other media outlets.

Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist