ABC journalist Michael Hing reveals he also considered leaving network amid ongoing racial abuse

Asian-Australian ABC journalist Michael Hing has come forward with his own experience of racial abuse from trolls after Stan Grant’s shock exit.

An Asian-Australian ABC journalist has come forward with his own experience of racial abuse from trolls while working at the network.

In the wake of veteran colleague Stan Grant’s departure from the ABC after years of being racially abused and mocked by critics, Michael Hing said he stands in “solidarity with Stan Grant” as he has also considered stepping away from his job over the same issue.

“I’ve considered leaving the ABC several times over the years because of the ongoing racial abuse that all white management teams are too often incapable of (fully) understanding,” Hing – who is of Chinese descent – tweeted on Friday, moments after Grant quit.

“Things are improving but there’s a long way to go.”

Michael Hing appears on The Project. Picture: Ten

Hours after his tweet, Hill shared his experience on Network 10’s The Project, on which he claimed he received a lack of support from ABC bosses over the racial taunts.

“Stan Grant is a really smart and really thoughtful guy,” Hing told the panel. “I don’t know the specifics of his experience but I’m someone who has worked at the ABC for a couple of years and I’ve also thought about leaving because of racist abuse.”

Michael Hing has worked at the ABC for the last two years.

“I work on a radio show there and I would say maybe once a week I get called [by online trolls] a racial slur or I get told I’m not Australian … so I kind of relate to at least a small part of what Stan is talking about.”

Hing said his direct colleagues have been really positive when he discusses his experiences with them openly, but he feels higher management could do more to show their support.

“Bringing an issue to bosses and sometimes they are an all-white group, potentially, it’s really difficult for them to understand exactly what it’s like to be called racial names or to be vilified in that way,” Hing shared.

“So it can be a struggle and I think that’s at least a little bit of what Stan has gone through. So I wish him all the best, and I hope he gets the care and support he deserves.”

Stan Grant has departed the ABC due to ongoing racist taunts. Picture: ABC

It was yesterday afternoon that accomplished ABC host Grant penned an article for his employer’s website to announce he has chosen to “walk away” from the company after six years.

In his article, Grant – who was made the permanent host of the network’s current affairs talk show Q+A last year – revealed ongoing racism was to blame for his decision to leave, and the lack of support from his network was disheartening.

“This year the stakes are higher. There is a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and I am not alone in feeling judged. This is an Australian judgment on us. Such is politics,” he explained. “But racism is a crime. Racism is violence. And I have had enough.”