ABC hits back after ‘divisive’ Voice to Parliament interview lashed

The ABC has hit back after being accused by Indigenous senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price of stoking division on the Voice to Parliament.

The ABC has hit back after it was labelled “divisive” over its coverage of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price accused the national broadcaster of fostering division in the community in an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

Ms Price took issue with prominent pro-Voice campaigner Noel Pearson’s 16-minute interview on ABC’s morning show Radio National.

During the interview with host Patricia Karvelas, Mr Pearson described the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s formal opposition of the Voice as a “Judas-style betrayal of the country”.

“Anytime anyone like me or Peter Dutton asks a question or expresses some scepticism about what would be the biggest ever change to our constitution, the ABC goes straight to their contact list of Voice activists to trot out their divisive political talking points,’ Ms Price told the Daily Telegraph.

‘They let Voice activists label their opponents racist, call them names, and launch into partisan political point scoring – all while accusing the ‘no’ side of stoking division.’

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price accused the ABC of stoking division in is coverage of the Voice. Picture: Mark Brake

Now, the ABC has hit back with a strongly worded statement on its website rejecting the assertions — and even claimed Senator Price was welcome to air her beliefs on its show.

“RN Breakfast presenter Patricia Karvelas has interviewed people from all sides of the constitutional recognition debate and has met ABC editorial responsibilities throughout that coverage,” the statement, published on Friday, read.

“Ms Karvelas put forward the arguments of opposition leader Peter Dutton on several occasions during the interview with Noel Pearson.

“Previous editions of RN Breakfast have featured interviews with senior Coalition MPs and other prominent figures including Julian Leeser, Paul Fletcher, Barnaby Joyce, Sussan Ley, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe and business advisor and commentator Warren Mundine.”

Radio National host Patricia Karvelas had earlier hosted Noel Pearson, who accused Peter Dutton of “betraying” the country. Picture: Julian Kingma

Senator Price had been “invited onto the program on numerous occasions,” the public broadcaster asserted.

“She is yet to accept that invitation,” it wrote.

“It should also be noted Mr Dutton was interviewed just prior to Mr Pearson on the AM program.

“RN Breakfast, along with other ABC programs, will continue to canvas all sides of this discussion, as audiences would expect.”

Senator Price, a Warlpiri-Celtic woman and the former deputy mayor of Alice Springs, has been outspoken in her opposition to the Voice and has spearheaded the ‘No’ campaign.

Previously Dean Parkin, director of the ‘Yes’ campaign, told news.com.au he hoped Aussies would vote yes. Picture: Supplied

Previously Dean Parkin, director of the Yes Campaign, told news.com.au he hoped Aussies would vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum, saying it was a vote for “recognition that will pave the way for real change.”

“Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of this nation, that in itself is an important thing,” Mr Parkin told this publication.

“It says something about who we are as a nation — that we are welcoming and diverse and honest. It means that every Australian can connect their story to the history of this country.”

Mr Parkin said there was a “shared frustration across Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians about the lack of progress on really important issues” such as Closing the Gap, claiming a ‘Yes’ vote would mean better policy and fewer misdirected resources.