No leaders slam ABC Indigenous ‘genocide’ comment

ABC federal politics reporter Dana Morse made the comments on Sunday’s Insiders program, while speaking about the Indigenous voice to parliament.

Insiders, the ABC’s flagship politics show on weekends. Picture: Twitter

The No campaign’s Indigenous leaders have criticised comments made on the ABC’s flagship weekend politics program, Insiders, about “ongoing genocide” of Indigenous Australians.

Dana Morse, a federal politics reporter for the national broadcaster, made the comments on Sunday’s program, while speaking about the Indigenous voice to parliament and its proposed powers.

"Division and doubt."

What was the Opposition's strategy on the Indigenous Voice in question time this week, and did it work?

The #Insiders panel discuss #auspolpic.twitter.com/Yv02nR0eKI

— ABC News (@abcnews) June 24, 2023

“But to speak to the issue of January 26, what are people protesting about on January 26?” she said. “They are protesting about the invasion, they are protesting about the genocide of Aboriginal people that is ongoing today.”

Opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Price called on the national broadcaster to “rein in their activist employees”.

“There is no genocide being perpetrated today, and comments saying there is have no place on public airwaves,” Senator Price said.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price pictured in Alice Springs. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

“I’ve called on the ABC ­previously to control their staff and ensure balanced and impartial voice commentary, but once again an ABC so-called reporter has been allowed to spew divisive and false information without being pulled up by the host.

“The No campaign has tried to work with the ABC to ensure ­balance. I personally have done six ABC appearances on TV and radio in less than a week, but their bias in this referendum is still on full display and the ABC bosses must do more to rein in their activist employees.”

Fellow No campaign leader Warren Mundine called the comments “rubbish”.

“There’s no genocide happening. In fact, the last 56 years since the ’67 referendum, the improvement for Aboriginal people and the opportunities and equality … is just something my parents and grandparents dreamt of,” he said.

“There’s no genocide happening today. And if she’s got evidence of that, then let her … point it out … they should call her in, because it’s just a whole pack of lies and nonsense.”

The ABC has been contacted for comment.