Minister Rowland’s call to David Anderson on day of Stan Grant’s departure

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland contacted the ABC’s managing director on the day Stan Grant departed so she could discuss how the public broadcaster deals with racism.

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland intervened on the day of Stan Grant’s sudden departure from the ABC, to discuss the fallout involving the Indigenous host after he took part in a controversial king’s coronation panel.

In new information published in response to a question on notice at Senate estimates, it has been revealed Ms Rowland spoke to ABC managing director David Anderson about Grant’s exit on May 22 and a day later she requested her ­office provide the ABC with ­detailed information on how to handle online abuse.

Senator Sarah Henderson’s question on notice requested information in relation to conversations between Ms Rowland and the ABC regarding Grant.

The ABC outlined that it had “operational and editorial independence”; thatMsRowland spoke with Mr Anderson; and she requested her office assist the ABC in dealing with racism issues.

“The minister spoke with the ABC managing director by phone to discuss the matter on 22 May, 2023, including the request by the chair and deputy chair of the ABC’s Bonner Committee to ask the managing director to conduct a review to investigate and make recommendations about ABC ­responses to racism affecting ABC staff, and what the ABC can do better to support staff who face it,” the ABC said in its response.

“The minister asked her office to provide information to the ABC on information about the relevant eSafety complaint avenues and support resources.”

Mr Anderson told ABC Melbourne radio in August that the review into racism had not started and five months on from its initial announcement no further details have been revealed.

The ABC received nearly 2000 written complaints over a controversial panel that aired on the night of King Charles III’s coronation.

It featured Grant and discussed the harm the monarchy had caused Indigenous Australians.

Grant hosted his last episode of Q+A on May 22 and officially quit the ABC in August, criticising the public broadcaster for not supporting him while he copped online abuse over the coronation panel discussion.

The ABC was last week asked by The Australian if the racism ­review’s terms of reference had been set and a chair chosen, but a spokeswoman would not comment.

The documents provided in questions on notice detailed ­resources provided to the ABC from Ms Rowland’s office including how to report adult cyber-abuse and how to deal with hate speech online, and it also provided First Nations resources and information for journalists on how to deal with online abuse.

The correspondence said the independent regulator for online safety, eSafety, had been working with the ABC in addressing ­racism issues.

“ESafety has collaborated with the social media wellbeing ­adviser from the ABC to develop test practice tips for both media organisations and journalists to manage and mitigate the risk of social media abuse,” the minister’s office said.

“ESafety also offers ‘social media self-defence’ training for organisations which is delivered and tailored for the particular workplace and industry.”

Multiple ABC staff have complained about racism in the workplace including voice corres­pondent and host of The Drum Dan Bourchier, an Indigenous man, who said he didn’t want to appear on programs just so the public broadcaster could tick a ­diversity box.

A spokesman for Ms Rowland would not comment on the matters that were discussed between her and Mr Anderson.