Stan Grant lashes the ABC over election night diversity fail

Indigenous ABC presenter Stan Grant has taken an extraordinary swipe at his own network for a lack of diversity on its election night panel.

Indigenous ABC presenter Stan Grant has taken an extraordinary swipe at his own network for a lack of diversity on its election night panel.

In a letter to ABC managing director David Andersen, which was leaked in part to Crikey, Grant, a Wiradjuri man, wrote: “In 2023, how is it at all acceptable that an election night coverage features an entire white panel?”

The Q&A host made a point of saying the letter was not a criticism of his colleagues on the panel – describing them as “well qualified” - but argued for decades the ABC had “nurtured and promoted white staff at the exclusion of others”.

“There is no excuse for what I saw on air last night,” he wrote.
“None. I have worked at organisations around the world and nowhere would what we presented last night be tolerated.”

The ABC’s panel was led by David Speers and Sarah Ferguson, and they were joined by NSW treasurer Matt Kean and Labor frontbencher Penny Sharpe.

The promotional material for the ABC election night coverage.

Stan Grant took aim at his employers. Picture: ABC

Grant told Crikey the “ABC must do better” and that he saw it as his responsibility to “keep the organisation honest”.

“I don’t do it for myself – I have had my career – but I don’t want to wait another decade for things to change,” he said.

Malaysian-born ABC journalist Jeremy Fernandez was one of the journalists Grant claims was reduced to a ‘cameo’ role, despite featuring in promotional material for the coverage.

During the show, Fernandez was tasked with explaining the ABC’s ‘big board’ that showed which way key seats were expected to fall.

“The fact that any journalists of colour in our coverage were ‘off Broadway’ in support roles, reporting from the suburbs, only adds to the insult,” Grant said.

The ABC’s election coverage was hosted by Sarah Ferguson and David Speirs.

ABC political reporter Ashleigh Rapper featured heavily in the coverage.

Grant said he had seen no significant change in diversity or equity since joining the broadcaster 40 years ago and was ‘fed-up’ with its empty promises to lead change.

ABC Director News Justin Steven told The Guardian he agreed with Grant that “the ABC is not yet where we want to be” but highlighted recent appointments, including Suzanne Dredge in the new role of head of indigenous news, and Dan Bourchier in the newly created role of voice correspondent.

Yes I would like more diversity on ABC. I can think of about 3 reporters there who have any integrity & who not towing the Govt line. And their website is terrible. Lots of identity politics & human interest stories.

— Michael Khalsa (@MichaelKhalsa9) March 28, 2023

“We will continue to do all we can to elevate the work of indigenous employees and ensure our coverage and workforce are truly representative of Australia,” Stevens said.

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