‘Always was, always will be’, declares ABC reporter Bridget Brennan

ABC Indigenous Affairs editor Bridget Brennan says Australia is owned by Aboriginal people and it’s been a ‘rough year for our mob’ | WATCH

ABC Indigenous Affairs editor Bridget Brennan has declared in an Australia Day news report that the country “always was and always will be Aboriginal land.”

Brennan, a Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman, was being interviewed on ABC’s News Breakfast program by presenter Michael Rowland to discuss the Wugulora Ceremony at Barangaroo in Sydney being held on Australia Day.

During the live cross Brennan interviewed the Australia Day Council’s chairman Andrew Parker to talk about what she described as a “tribute to Gadigal people”, before she declared that Australia is Aboriginal land.

During exchange Rowland then said to Brennan: “Before we leave you, fantastic work by the way, and the Wugulora ceremony simple underscores the fact that January 26, Australia Day, simply means vastly different things to different Australians.

Brennan replied: “It’s really, really positive that more Australians are engaging with their local Aboriginal communities and Torres Strait Islander communities and getting to know the names of the nations they live on, getting to know the Aboriginal communities that are in their backyard.

“For First Nations people, for my people, this is a very important day to remember our ancestors and those who fought for many decades to improve the living standards for our people and remember that it always was and always will be Aboriginal land.”

Rowland thanked Brennan for her time following the live cross.

An ABC spokeswoman was asked whether Brennan’s comments were appropriate in a straight news report on the taxpayer-funded broadcaster and if they adhered to the organisation’s editorial guidelines.

“The ABC backs her completely,” the spokeswoman said.

In another cross later in the day Brennan said to Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council spokesman Nathan Moran: “It’s been a pretty rough year for our mob hasn’t it.”

Her comments follow the resounding defeat of the Voice referendum in October when 60 per cent of the population voted no to change the referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Voice in the constitution.

Under the ABC’s editorial guidelines it states that independence must apply in the gathering and presentation of news and information to ensure it is impartial.

ABC news boss Justin Stevens announced in an email to staff on Thursday that Brennan had been appointed to “co-ordinate an urgent piece of work for us examining international best practice on providing support in culturally safe newsrooms and bringing ideas and recommendations to the News Executive.”

He said Brennan’s work would include a “particular focus on the issues that have been raised lately and feedback and ideas that come up in my listening sessions, as well as a special focus on supporting women, culturally diverse and First Nations staff – all of whom are disproportionately targeted on social media and elsewhere.”