Top ABC political journalist says Australia is a racist country

A senior ABC journalist has come under fire after describing Australia as a “racist country” during a rant about Peter Dutton’s vow to slash migration.

A senior ABC journalist has come under fire after declaring Australia a “racist country”.

Laura Tingle, chief political correspondent for ABC’s 7.30 program, was on a panel at the Sydney Writers Festival on Sunday when she reportedly said: “We are a racist country, let’s face it. We always have been and it’s very depressing”.

The Australian reported she also accused Liberal leader Peter Dutton of encouraging racism towards migrants looking to buy or rent property in Australia during the discussion.

Her comments were in response to Mr Dutton’s budget reply pledge to slash Australia’s permanent migration program to just 140,000 per year.

The Opposition Leader said he would “restore the Australian dream” of home ownership.

ABC 7.30 chief political correspondent Laura Tingle speaking at the Sydney Writers Festival on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who was one of the main figures of the No campaign in the Voice to Parliament referendum, appeared on 2GB on Monday to discuss the remarks, saying Tingle “should know better than to use that sort of rhetoric”.

“I’m really disappointed in this continued narrative that is being pushed within our country that does not provide any sense of pride for our children. It absolutely creates division,” she said.

Ms Nampijinpa Price accused Tingle of not doing her job properly.

“Laura Tingle has demonstrated over and again her bias and I think [ABC chair] Kim Williams needs to explain why having someone so blatantly partisan sitting in the top political commentator position is in fact acceptable,” she said.

Ms Nampijinpa Price also declared “we are not a racist country” in the wake of the referendum result in October.

“The Australian people have overwhelmingly voted No. They have said No to division in our Constitution along the lines of race,” she said at the time.

“They have said No to the gas-lighting, bullying, to the manipulation. They have said No to grievance and the push from activists to suggest that we are a racist country when we are absolutely not a racist country.”

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce were asked what they thought of Tingle’s remarks.

Ms Plibersek said Australia was not a racist country and instead said it was a “magnificent multicultural country” but “of course, there are Australians who have experienced racism”.

She said she believed Tingle was making a point about Mr Dutton “pretending” that if he bans migrants from buying houses, it is going to fix the country’s housing problem – which she said was a point worth making.

Mr Joyce also said Australia was not a racist country and took aim at the ABC.

“The question has to be asked, why do we fund something that only wants to talk to half of Australia? Maybe not even half of Australia?” he said.

Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

2GB host Ben Fordham also expressed his outrage before talking with Ms Nampijinpa Price on air.

“This is the same Australia where if someone attacks someone based on their appearance, their race, their culture, their religion, Aussies step in and do something about it,” he said.

“You see the videos pop up all the time on social media where some scumbag racist will start picking on someone on a train because of the colour of their skin or where they’ve come from and time and time again, ordinary Aussies step in and do something about it, and stick up for the person who is being abused.

“So I don’t know what Australia Laura Tingle lives in, but it’s different than the one I do.”

ABC had no comment when contacted by news.com.au.

Originally published as Top ABC political journalist says Australia is a racist country