Neil Mitchell blasts media, former ABC host Jon Faine over ‘urban white’ Indigenous voice to parliament criticism
Broadcaster Neil Mitchell has lashed former ABC host Jon Faine and the ‘media elite’ over its treatment of voice critics.
Broadcaster Neil Mitchell has lashed out at the Melbourne media after they openly cheered on a speech made by former ABC radio host Jon Faine in which he urged them to support the Indigenous voice to parliament.
Mitchell took to the airwaves on Monday morning to voice his concerns about the reaction to the speech after the former Melbourne morning radio presenter – who was once his on-air rival – criticised “urban white” commentators for weighing into the debate on the voice.
Faine delivered the stinging critique of his media colleagues upon accepting the lifetime achievement award at the Melbourne Press Club’s 28th Quill Awards for journalism excellence at Crown Casino on Friday night.
His critique of “urban white” commentators who oppose the voice was keenly cheered – despite the glaring hypocrisy falling from the lips of the very urban, very white commentator.
The nation must urgently implement both a treaty and a voice to parliament to address the “damage of our colonial past”, Faine declared. “I also don’t understand why … well meaning or maybe malicious commentators, who are not Indigenous, think that their thought bubble should prevail over seven years of national consultation with thousands of Indigenous people in hundreds of communities asking them what they want.
“And why some urban white commentators think that their opinions should prevail … (it) undermines the very concept of a voice.”
Melbourne 3AW host Mitchell said the behaviour of some journalists in the room was disgraceful.
“I am going to apologise to Jon for being urban and white even though he’s the same, but what worries me here … I’m told his comments were met with applause and cheers from some of the elite of Melbourne’s media,” Mitchell said on 3AW.
“Jon Faine is entitled to his opinion, I thought it was contradictory, he’s well entitled to his opinion, but for the media gathering to celebrate somebody suggesting that urban white people don’t have a right to express an opinion frightens me.”
Mitchell went on to condemn the journalists’ actions and said: “I was once president of the Melbourne Press Club, I’m a life member, I’ve treasured that, but really if this loopy left reaction is seriously representative of the Melbourne media and the way they see their role we’ve got big problems”.
Faine’s speech left many in the audience quietly wondering why he had chosen that moment to seemingly abandon the journalistic principles of impartiality on a political issue, and instead implore a room filled with reporters to march as one on such a divisive issue.
His stance on the voice puts him at odds with his former employer, the ABC, which last month took the unprecedented step of reminding its journalists to be objective when reporting on the voice in the lead-up to the referendum on the matter, which will be held later this year.
Faine, of course, is no longer employed by the ABC, where he worked for 24 years until 2019, and thus not bound by any editorial edicts issued by the public broadcaster.
He is currently a columnist with The Sunday Age.
But his comments about the voice left some journalists and editors stunned – not least because during his career he was a champion of journalistic impartiality.
Indigenous leader and businessman Warren Mundine – a fierce opponent of the voice – took Faine to task on Sunday.
Mr Mundine said that while his own views on the voice were well known, he recognised the importance of a healthy media debate on the issue in the lead-up to the referendum.
“Faine is putting out an anti-liberal democracy viewpoint and being a propagandist,” Mr Mundine said.
“I find it strange that people who claim to be journalists will run a propaganda campaign.
“Journalists should be looking at all the options and interviewing all sides for the opportunity to put their case forward and then the general public can decide how to vote.”
On Sunday, Faine was unrepentant over his speech, telling The Australian that Mundine’s comments were “ridiculous”.
“I will advocate for the voice anywhere, any time to anyone.”
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